Originally from Connecticut, Vipers head coach Steve Proteau got his start in baseball by playing t-ball, coach pitch and pickup games. Proteau then went on to play baseball on his high school’s team and then at the collegiate level.
Proteau started his college career as a pitcher for Norwalk Community College before moving to designated hitter and transferring to Western Connecticut State University after an arm injury.
“Baseball has always made sense to me,” Proteau said. “There are so many different variables throughout the game that when you know a lot of them you can follow along and you watch it in a different way.”
Proteau wound up moving to Florida after he met his future wife while visiting family during the holidays. Proteau and his wife recently celebrated their 12th anniversary.
Proteau has been one of the most successful coaches in the CLPB during his tenure. Proteau owns a 28-19 record over his first two seasons. In 2020, the Vipers were Co-Champions and in 2021 Proteau took the Vipers all the way to the semifinals.
Besides coaching the Vipers CLPB team, Proteau helps with the Vipers 14U and 18U teams and any other travel teams that need him. Proteau loves working for the Vipers as the owner and other coaches feel like family to him.
Proteau puts his psychology degree to use working with collegiate baseball players throughout the year to help with the mental aspects so the players’ minds can be relaxed when playing.
Working with college athletes allows Proteau to create a unique mental plan or approach to help a player based on the feedback a player gives him.
“If I can help each athlete on the roster in a positive way then I have done what my job is to help these young men develop,” Proteau said.