By Tom Nader
Publisher and Editor
“Getting to Know” is a regular Portage Sports feature created to spotlight the coaches and administrators that are guiding today’s Portage County student-athletes to become tomorrow’s leaders.
Today, we get to know Waterloo High School baseball head coach Jeremy Randles, who is in his second season leading the Vikings’ program.
Q: Hometown?
A: Orrville, Ohio.
JEREMY RANDLES
Q: High school?
A: Orrville High School. Class of 1994. Played golf and baseball.
Q: College?
A: University of Akron. Class of 1999. Degree in Criminal Justice.
Q: Current occupation?
A: Owner of Miracle Clean Services.
Q: What inspired you to become a coach?
A: I want to help teach and mentor kids in the sport of baseball.
Q: What makes being a coach at Waterloo special to you?
A: Waterloo is a great school and the Atwater and Randolph communities are very similar to the small town I grew up in. The support the community gives is second to none. Everyone helps each other. All you have to do is ask.
Q: Who has been your biggest influence?
A: My biggest mentor as a coach was my high-school coach, Coach Remenaric. He pushed his players to get max effort out of them everyday. It wasn’t always easy, but looking back, I respect him a lot more now. He always had a quote or saying of the say, and he would say it at the beginning of practice and if we could not say it back — word for word —at the end of practice, we had to keep running. I do this at Waterloo, and I think the boys have done a way better job remembering the quote than I ever did in high school.
Q: Funny story nobody would believe from your playing days?
A: I took a ball off the race in a high-school game. I was playing right field, and I lost the ball in the sun and it hit me right in the eye, giving me a black eye.
Q: Funny story nobody would believe from your coaching career?
A: I actually tripped a kid once rounding third base. I was screaming and pointing for him to round the bag and go home, and I got too excited and too close to the bag and he tripped over me.
Q: Favorite TV show.
A: Channel 3 news at 11. It is usually my only opportunity to catch up on what’s going on in the world.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: Rudy.
Q: Favorite musical artist?
A: Alabama.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: A good cut of filet mignon.
Q: Best vacation?
A: We used to go to Holden Beach in North Carolina every year when I was a kid, and I have some great memories from those days.
Q: Shoutout to former teammates?
A: Jeremy Grimm, Mark Hershey, Derrick Hochstetler, Kevin Maag.
Q: Favorite quote?
A: “Regarding commitment, you’re either in or out. There’s no such thing as a life in between.” — Pat Riley.
Q: Describe your coaching philosophy?
A: To treat everyone with respect and hold everyone accountable from the coaches down to the players. Nothing is given. Everything is earned.
Q: Favorite restaurant?
A: The Basem*nt in North Canton.
Q: Favorite teacher from high school?
A: Mr. Young (Algebra).
Q: Advice you would give the younger version of yourself?
A: It will never be easy, but keep on pushing and grinding and good things will happen. Don’t be afraid to take chances, because they can really pay off.
Q: Favorite coach from your playing days?
A: My summer coach growing up: David “Slink” Santmyer. He kept things light, while still pushing us to be our best.
Q: Coaching resume?
A: I have coached travel baseball for 13 years — mostly high-school ages. I also run my own travel organization, and we have six teams. This is my second year at Waterloo as varsity baseball coach.
Q: Favorite sports team?
A: Duke Blue Devils basketball, Ohio State Buckeyes football.
Q: Favorite athlete then?
A: Christian Laettner.
Q: Favorite athlete now?
A: LeBron James.
Q: First job as a teenager?
A: I worked at the Orr Theater in Orrville.
Q: Family member that always gives you the best advice?
A: My brother, Josh.
Q: Halloween costume last year?
A: Baseball coach, of course.
Q: Favorite video game?
A: Mike Tyson’s Punchout.
Q: Can you play any instruments?
A: I really don’t play instruments, but I have been told I sing really well. I once auditioned for the show “The Voice” and made the first cut.
Q: Favorite candy?
A: Peanut M&M’s.
Q: First car?
A: 1983 Ford Escort.
Q: Best friend?
A: My wife is my best friend and my three kids as well. Any free time I get, I love spending it with them.
Q: Most memorable moment as a player?
A: Playing in the All-Star Game when I was in Hot Stove.
Q: Most memorable moment as a coach?
A: Coaching 18U a few summers ago, we were losing 13-4 in the last inning of a championship game and our team rallied to tie it. As it was getting dark, I knew we had one shot to win it or accept a tie. I called a squeeze bunt and it worked, and we won 14-13. Always play to the lat out and my guys did that.
