Jeff Buck always enjoyed playing baseball in Madison and so it made perfect sense that he also wanted to coach the sport on his hometown’s fields. Earlier this year, Jeff received the call-up of a lifetime with the Post 79 American Legion program.

Jeff was a three-year varsity baseball and football player at Hand prior to swinging the bat at Division I Central Connecticut State University. Following a summer as an assistant on Madison’s 19-U AAU travel squad, Jeff was named skipper for the town’s Senior Legion club and recently completed his first campaign in the dugout.

“I always knew in my mind that I would end up coaching. Being an assistant on the travel team last year was a nice plus, but when I got the bump up to this head coaching spot, it was great news to hear,” says Jeff, a Madison native who still lives in town. “I played four years here in Madison for Legion, so it’s nice to be back. I have a good understanding for the players of how grueling the season is, so I try to see things through their eyes as much as I can. I still want to be out there and playing with them, but I’ve adjusted to it and it’s fun coaching.”

Jeff was all about getting his men to grow through the peaks and valleys of the season this summer. He also wanted them to enjoy experiencing the personal victories that came between the bases.

“We have a young team here, so I focus more on getting them to play the game the right way over wins and losses, such as learning how to grind through a tough inning,” Jeff says. “The rewards of coaching to me are when you see a kid take and apply what you teach them in a game situation and also succeed in any aspect of the game. Sometimes you have to battle through that tough inning, so it’s great to see that competitive behavior come out.”

According to post 79 General Manager Rob Corraro, Jeff’s playing experience speaks to the fact that he can guide a team in the intense atmosphere of the diamond.

“Jeff has been a tremendous asset to our Legion program. Last year, he worked with many of these players as an assistant coach for our 18-U team. His leadership and baseball knowledge has helped many of our younger players grow this season,” says Corraro. “As a former Division I catcher, Jeff knows what it takes to succeed. He’s a very competitive guy who sets the tone for how our players need to play the game.”

The fact that American Legion baseball pools together some of the future stars of tomorrow is an appealing aspect of the job for Jeff, who felt ecstatic to take on opponents with a team full of Madison’s top prospects after the town didn’t field a Legion program last summer.

“I loved the idea of bringing back Legion ball to Madison this year. I’ve personally never been a fan of AAU, but when I played Legion, we played versus a lot of Division I guys and some even went to the next level, so we are trying to bring that back,” says Jeff. “The best part about all of it is playing with your high school teammates for a whole other season and playing for something.”

A primary component of America’s pastime involves preventing mental hiccups and so Jeff is always aiming to see his 79ers stay sharp on their way to what he hopes is the next phase of their baseball careers.

“In the short term, I want to get these kids more focused on the mental aspects of the game. You have to have focus and know where things need to be in certain situations,” Jeff says. “In the long run, I hope all of these kids find a place to play beyond high school.”