Noce settles into new role
Paul Noce has seen his fair share of baseball.
A former Major League Baseball player with the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, Noce has spent more than 40 years of his life dedicated to the game.
When the USPBL first launched in 2016, Noce brought his expertise by managing the Eastside Diamond Hoppers.
After six seasons as manager of the squad, Noce is making a transition in the 2022 season to field coordinator of the USPBL. The new role will allow him to work and develop all of the players in the league, as opposed to just one team.
“I think I just needed a change, honestly,” Noce said. “This is, I think, my 41st year in baseball, and the last 26 years, have been either as a head coach or a manager. It’s not a major change, but it allows me to just focus on the players and not worry about wins and losses. I’m excited to do something a little different and use my skills and try to better the players in this league.”
Noce’s passion for baseball and developing players aligns perfectly with the USPBL, which has stated often that it’s purpose is to help young players advance in their baseball careers.
To date, the USPBL has had 45 players from its league go on to sign with Major League Baseball organizations.
“I think having been focused on developing players and trying to move them and not being heavily focused on just winning,” Noce said of why the USPBL has been successful. “I have got a lot of friends in the other leagues, and their focus is on winning. If they don’t win, they lose their job. The philosophy from the very begin
ning with the USPBL was developing players.
“It’s not because winning isn’t important or still stressed, but developing the players has always been our niche.
“That’s what makes this league different.”
Along with his time in the majors, Noce was also an instructor and manager in MLB organizations prior to taking over the head coaching job at Hillsdale College in 1994.
During his tenure, Noce amassed 349 wins at Hillsdale.
In 2012, Noce was inducted into the Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in San Mateo, Calif.
Noce has seen a lot of young, aspiring baseball players over these last four decades and the key to success has always started with one basic principle.
“Fundamentals, trying to train to hone your skill, that’s what young kids should be working on,” Noce said of what young players should focus on. “Having and developing your fundamentals gives you a platform to build on. If you’re not fundamentally sound, then there’s nothing to build on. It’s just like building a house. If there’s no foundation, then the house is going to crumble, right? My advice to high school kids, younger kids, is learn the fundamentals. Don’t worry so much about some of this advanced stuff that’s being taught like launch angles. Learn to play catch, learn to throw the ball properly, learn to make contact. Become great at the fundamentals and that will allow you to add new dimensions to your game.”
Noce and the USPBL players will be getting their seventh season underway this Friday from Jimmy John’s Field in Utica when the Eastside Diamond Hoppers take on the Utica Unicorns at 7:05 p.m.