Jake Lanferman: Building Character and Community in College Baseball

Jake Lanferman, the Head Coach of the Edmonton Riverhawks, joins the Community for Episode 11! Lanferman reflected on how growing up in Ardrossan playing both hockey and baseball shaped his athletic development, emphasizing that multi-sport participation helped him avoid burnout and become a more complete competitor. He credited his parents—especially his father—for instilling discipline, work ethic, and a process-oriented mindset that later influenced both his playing career and coaching philosophy. Lanferman discussed how experiences at baseball showcases and college baseball in the USA opened his eyes to the elite level of competition, motivating him to focus on his strengths while continuously improving weaker areas of his game. As a coach, he now prioritizes character, accountability, and community involvement just as much as athletic ability, believing youth sports should help develop strong people as well as strong athletes.Lanferman spoke about the importance of resilience and learning through adversity, noting that failure in baseball taught him lessons that translated directly into life outside of sports. He described how coaching younger athletes has shifted his perspective from focusing purely on performance to helping players build confidence, leadership, and consistency in their everyday habits. Lanferman also highlighted the value of small communities like Ardrossan, explaining that the support system around local sports programs helped create lasting relationships and opportunities for athletes to grow.Our team:Nuance Hockey - Sean ConnautonMah Golf - Matt MahTaylor MedakBolt Media & Design - Dylan FlaschThank you to our guest & sponsors:Jake LanfermanEarth WaterBird and Barley - promo code YSC15 for 15%!FG Promotions - mention YSC for 5% off your 1st purchase!A new episode every 3 weeks on:YouTubeAppleSpotifyAmazonAudibleFollow us on:InstagramTik TokFacebookXThreads