The Collegiate League of the Palm Beaches is excited to welcome back Jay Judson for his 4th season as manager of the Juno Beach Loggerheads.
Judson is no rookie to the CLPB. His experience in coaching expands past the CLPB, as Judson coached high school and collegiate summer baseball elsewhere in Florida. He looks forward to returning again to the CLPB.
“I have coached in other summer collegiate leagues, and I have found that the CLPB is more well run than the others. They also get a better class of ballplayers, and the staff here does an amazing job.”
One of the challenges of coaching summer ball is getting a new team every year. Judson’s experience benefits him and his players as he knows how to navigate that challenge.
“Getting a new crop of ballplayers every year is the fun part. There are a number of players that do come back, which I do enjoy. With the new ballplayers, I enjoy coaching and teaching them. My goal is to make them all better for when they go back or start at their new school.”
CLPB players are among the best in the country according to Judson, which is a big part of why he continues to come back. Helping the players is the joy of his job and what he savors the most.
“These kids have a better understanding of the game and the players that are coming to the CLPB have a better understanding of the game. I get a kick out of watching them once they leave and go back to school and succeed, go into bigger places, and even get drafted. I love being a part of them living a part of their dreams.”
Judson spent five season in the Mets minor league system as a professional baseball player before retiring and becoming a coach. After starting as an assistant coach at Bergen Community College, Judson become the head coach of high school, Dwight School. There, he won four state titles before moving to Florida for his coaching career.
“I am a coach who understands both the athletic and psychological parts of the game,” Judson said. “By learning both parts, these players can become more complete ballplayers.”