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About Mike |
Mike has had the privilege of working with hitters as a private baseball hitting coach at every level over the last 25 years, from the 8 year old to the Major League All Star. He is able to transfer his expert knowledge of the baseball swing into the mind and muscle memory of the baseball player, in a very unique and powerful way, leading to success at the plate.
He is currently working full time for Major League Baseball as a hitting coach.
Mike has also maintained close relationships with college baseball coaches and has helped to facilitate numerous Division I powerhouse commits among his lessons clientele, to schools in the SEC, Big 12, ACC, Pac 10 and more.
Among the hitters he has worked with over the years are 2007 National League Champion Colorado Rockies where Mike served at the Assistant to the Hitting Coach. National League batting champion Matt Holliday, 2009 Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan, 2011 World Series MVP David Freese, and 2016 World Series MVP Ben Zobrist (Coach Bard’s SS at Dallas Baptist University), 2013 World Baseball Classic MVP Michael Saunders (pool C), MLB All Stars Matt Holliday, Joc Pederson. Most recently, Bobby Dalbec made his major league debut with a home run for the Red Sox (2020 season).
During his time at Bardo's Diamond Sports in Colorado, have also served the amateur market in Colorado that includes the only two Colorado representatives that have won the prestigious Cooperstown Field of Dreams championship CO Armour (2014) and CO Altitude (2016). Bardo’s teams had multiple state champions at the USSSA and Triple Crown state tournaments over the last 10 years in both the AAA and Majors levels. Bardo’s in house youth teams have also captured the only National Titles won by a Colorado youth team in Triple Crown Sports spring/summer nationals (CO 14ers and CO Altitude).
Mike's goal is to make sure every youth baseball player that comes to him knows what is true about hitting. A successful student is one who knows how to correct himself, when coaches are unavailable. Mike works to build a solid foundation of understanding in minds of players, coaches and parents.
He is currently working full time for Major League Baseball as a hitting coach.
Mike has also maintained close relationships with college baseball coaches and has helped to facilitate numerous Division I powerhouse commits among his lessons clientele, to schools in the SEC, Big 12, ACC, Pac 10 and more.
Among the hitters he has worked with over the years are 2007 National League Champion Colorado Rockies where Mike served at the Assistant to the Hitting Coach. National League batting champion Matt Holliday, 2009 Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan, 2011 World Series MVP David Freese, and 2016 World Series MVP Ben Zobrist (Coach Bard’s SS at Dallas Baptist University), 2013 World Baseball Classic MVP Michael Saunders (pool C), MLB All Stars Matt Holliday, Joc Pederson. Most recently, Bobby Dalbec made his major league debut with a home run for the Red Sox (2020 season).
During his time at Bardo's Diamond Sports in Colorado, have also served the amateur market in Colorado that includes the only two Colorado representatives that have won the prestigious Cooperstown Field of Dreams championship CO Armour (2014) and CO Altitude (2016). Bardo’s teams had multiple state champions at the USSSA and Triple Crown state tournaments over the last 10 years in both the AAA and Majors levels. Bardo’s in house youth teams have also captured the only National Titles won by a Colorado youth team in Triple Crown Sports spring/summer nationals (CO 14ers and CO Altitude).
Mike's goal is to make sure every youth baseball player that comes to him knows what is true about hitting. A successful student is one who knows how to correct himself, when coaches are unavailable. Mike works to build a solid foundation of understanding in minds of players, coaches and parents.
Resume
Mike Bard
Comprehensive approach to hitting and offensive run production. Over 18 years experience with professional hitters - walking side by side with them in elite movement execution, high level game planning, emotional stability and control. Served notably in 2021 World Series Champions Atlanta Braves in creating organization-wide game planning using Hawkeye, Trackman and Totem.
EXPERIENCE
Atlanta Braves — Hitting Coach October 2019 - October 2022
Worked closely with over 60 MLB and MILB players as personal hitting consultant
Athletes in Action - Head Baseball Coach May 2004 - July 2005 | Summer 1993
University of Kansas - Recruiting Coordinator
KU baseball teams set school hitting record twice with Mike as their hitting coach
Howard Junior College - Assistant Baseball Coach
Texas Tech University - Assistant Baseball Coach
June 1991-August 1991
CLIENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Texas Tech University Masters in Sports Administration | BA in Exercise and Sports Science
University of Kansas Student Athlete | All Big 8 and Academic All Big 8
Howard Junior College Associates Degree | Student Athlete
Comprehensive approach to hitting and offensive run production. Over 18 years experience with professional hitters - walking side by side with them in elite movement execution, high level game planning, emotional stability and control. Served notably in 2021 World Series Champions Atlanta Braves in creating organization-wide game planning using Hawkeye, Trackman and Totem.
EXPERIENCE
Atlanta Braves — Hitting Coach October 2019 - October 2022
- Rome Braves low A | 2020 season
- Augusta Greenjackets High A | 2021 season
- Mississippi Braves AA | 2022 season
- Developed Organization-wide Game Planning with the analytic department (went live in 2021-present)
- $1.5M Annual Revenues
- Led team of 40 instructors in daily mentorship
- Combined 75 High School & Youth Travel Teams annually
- Led the local culture change of baseball in Colorado in hitting, arm care and style of play.
- Hitting consultant with Los Angeles Dodgers instructional league, winter training and spring training.
- Assistant to the Hitting Coach Colorado Rockies major league
- Participant in 2007 MLB World Series
Worked closely with over 60 MLB and MILB players as personal hitting consultant
Athletes in Action - Head Baseball Coach May 2004 - July 2005 | Summer 1993
- Head Coach of International Team USA 1993 (China, Alaska, Philippines)
- Head Coach of AIA Summer Teams Summer 2003
- 2003 and 2004 NCCAA National Coach of the Year
- Took Program from NAIA to D1 in 2 years
- DBU Patriots 2004 record of 44-16 (during their first year at D-1 level). Wins that year include Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Texas Tech, TCU and Fresno State.
University of Kansas - Recruiting Coordinator
KU baseball teams set school hitting record twice with Mike as their hitting coach
Howard Junior College - Assistant Baseball Coach
Texas Tech University - Assistant Baseball Coach
- Recruited Big XII all-time career leader in wins, games started, shutouts, RBIs, and total bases while at Texas Tech.
- 1995 Texas Tech led all NCAA Division 1 teams with a .344 team batting average.
June 1991-August 1991
- Signed as an undrafted free agent and played 1 season in the Single A short season Northwest League: Bend (Oregon) Bucks.
CLIENT ACHIEVEMENTS
- MLB NL Batting Champion
- MLB NL Rookie of the Year
- MLB Silver Slugger
- MLB All-Stars
- MLB NL Championship Series MVP
- MLB World Series MVP
- MLB HR Derby runner up
- World Baseball Classic Pool C MVP
Texas Tech University Masters in Sports Administration | BA in Exercise and Sports Science
University of Kansas Student Athlete | All Big 8 and Academic All Big 8
Howard Junior College Associates Degree | Student Athlete