The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545830
40 ■ THE WOLFPACKER longtime travel coach Sammy Serrano, who has sent both of his sons, Eli and Christian, to NC State in the past four years. "He just loves baseball. He loves talking about players and trying to do what's right by players. I think if anyone could make this as seamless as possible, it would be Chris." Talent Developer In addition to his recruiting prowess, Hart has shown he can maximize players' potential once they get to Raleigh. He has an intentional approach to development based on one-on-one instruction. Hart doesn't put players in a box, nor does he force the same improvement plan onto everyone in the program. "He sees what tools players have, and he can say, 'Well, we've done this with this player, I think we can tailor a development plan that's going to work similarly to that,'" Sammy Serrano said. "That's just an internal baseball IQ that he has of how to develop people." When it came to Eli Serrano, a 6-foot-5 outfielder, Hart laid out a plan that could help the blue-chip recruit hit a new level as a draft-eligible sophomore. He didn't think a summer ball team would be the best way of getting the most out of Ser- rano after his freshman year. Instead, Hart put him on a weightlifting regimen to improve his strength and power. The plan worked. Eli Serrano had 9 doubles and 9 home runs as a sopho- more, starring on the Wolfpack's 2024 College World Series squad. Not only did Hart maintain an open line of com- munication with the Serrano family, he was able to prove his plan worked at a high level. It led the second-year player to become a fourth-round pick by the New York Mets in the summer of 2024. "I trust him. He listens, he gives feed- back. That's what makes him so good. For somebody else, it might not be the same story," said the elder Serrano, who also serves as an assistant for Team USA's 18U squad. "We trust he's going to do the right thing by them from a developmen- tal standpoint. That's what makes him so good. There are a lot of coaches that are stuck in one way, and that's it. That's never what I've seen from Chris." Hart has a unique ability to connect with each player on the roster. They all learn differently, and he's aware of that. The adaptable approach to getting the most out of every player is a byproduct of that idea. For Butterworth, a Western Carolina transfer who developed into an everyday player on the Pack's Omaha team and became a 12th-round pick by the San Diego Padres in 2024 after one season with Hart, the idea of being yourself is a critical part of the coach's mindset. "Baseball is different for everybody," NC State has gone 804-465 with 18 NCAA Tournament bids and three trips to the Men's College World Series during Hart's tenure on the coaching staff. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS