On the Beat With Shane Winkler

I just had the pleasure of interviewing East Carolina University Head Softball Coach Shane Winkler. It had been a long time sine I last talked to Coach Winkler. Our interview is at On the Beat With Shane Winkler.

I first met Coach Winkler in 2014, when he was managing the National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits. The Bandits finished 30-18 in second place under Winkler.

A standout baseball player at Illinois Central College, Purdue and Butler, Winkler played a couple seasons of minor league ball. Two of his managers in the minors were former major leaguers Buddy Biancalana and Tom Browning.

When his playing career ended, Winkler started coaching. Winkler's first collegiate job came as in 2005 as co-head coach at Danville Area Community College in Danville, Illinois. He started coaching softball while in college in his hometown of Kentland, Indiana. More recently, Winkler coached Charleston Southern for ten seasons, followed by three seasons at George Washington. He is in his first season at East Carolina University.

In our interview, Coach Winkler discussed his path to the Bandits, his coaching style, recruiting and more, including a scouting report on his Pirates team. He also talked a bit about the remaining games and the tough American Athletic Conference.

The ECU Pirates are 19-29 (2-10). As Coach Winkler stated, they are in a bit of a rebuild, but have already surpassed last year's win total of 16. The Pirates have seven more games and then host the AAC Tournament May 12-14. We wish a lot of luck to the Pirates and we'll be following.

I thank Coach Winkler for his time and consideration. Go to ECUPirates.com for more info on East Carolina Athletics.

Friendly Encounters: Shone Carter and Shane Winkler

This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Shane Winkler played baseball in the Independent Leagues in the mid 2000's.  Two of his Managers were Buddy Biancalana and Tom Browning, former major league players.  Since then, Winkler has done a lot of coaching, including his current position as Head Softball Coach at Charleston Southern.
I met Winkler while covering the Chicago Bandits last season.  Winkler was managing the Bandits and was my first interview with the team.  That interview can be found at On the Beat with Shane Winkler of the Chicago Bandits.
I always enjoyed talking to Winkler.  He gave a great interview and was always willing to give me his time.  I have nothing but good things to say about Winkler and I will appreciate his time and consideration always.
Last season , Winkler met with Shonie Carter, UFC Fighter, Mr. International, mixed martial artist at the Ball Park in Rosemont (at almost the exact spot of my first interview with Winkler).  I almost wrote that they "hooked up," but given Carter's career, I needed to rethink my word choice.  Winkler is a great athlete, but I doubt he'd like to hook up with the martial arts master, despite what the photo below might indicate.
Winkler did not return to the Bandits for the 2015 season.  I will miss him at the games.  I wish him great success at Charleston Southern.

Shonie Carter and Shane Winkler in Rosemont, IL-June 2014.

On the Beat with Manager Shane Winkler of the Chicago Bandits

The Johngy's Beat-Justin's World joint coverage of the Chicago Bandits continues today with Manager Shane Winkler.  This is an interview I did not want to see happen.  It is the season wrap and therefore it meant that the regular season was over.
Winkler lead the Bandits to 2nd place with a 30-18 record.  The USSSA Pride finished in 1st with a 33-15 record.  The Bandits met the AkronRacers in the playoffs and unfortunately lost the best of three series.
It was a great season of watching the Bandits.  Winkler was very professional and friendly to us.  I really enjoyed this season and look forward to next season.

We will have several more interviews with the Bandits in the near future.  We were fortunate enough to talk to every player and we will run all of those interviews here.

Post by Justin's World.

On the Beat with Chicago Bandits Manager Shane Winkler

As I previously mentioned, Justin of Justin's World, contacted me a while back about doing some joint coverage of the Chicago Bandits.  Justin's World is "Your #1 source for Division 1 and professional softball news, articles, opinion, interviews, and more!"  Now it is also the home of my interviews with the Bandits.

I wanted to start with the man in charge, Manager Shane Winkler.  Winkler played baseball at Butler University, followed by a couple seasons in the minor leagues.  Two of his managers in the minors were former major leaguers Buddy Biancalana and Tom Browning.  When his playing career ended, Winkler started coaching.  His journey eventually lead him to the Bandits.  You can hear about Winkler's career and much more in the interview at Shane Winkler Steps into Justin's World.

Did Winkler step into Justin's World or did he find himself on Johngy's Beat?  Thanks to Justin reaching out, Winkler and the rest of the Bandits will be stepping into Justin's World and on Johngy's Beat.  That's double the coverage!  Justin and I hope you enjoy the coverage as much as we enjoy immersing ourselves in the Bandits.  Stay tuned, because it has only just begun.

Shane Winkler and me in Rosemont, IL-June 2014.