Wallingford's Muttitt Continues Tradition of Dedicated Coaching

With the Little League World Series in full swing and in the national spotlight, there are plenty of stories and profiles on the players and coaches that have accomplished their dreams of reaching Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

You won’t see Brian Muttitt or his story on ESPN this week, but you can find him coaching youngsters on a baseball field in Wallingford anytime during the spring, summer or fall.

Muttitt, 40, is the epitome of a youth baseball lifer.

He remained involved with the Shore Haven Junior Baseball League in West Haven for more than 20 years after his playing days were done, working as an umpire and later as a coach. He took a short-lived break for a couple of years when his second son was born.

Now, he gets to coach his sons — Cameron, 8, and Chase, 5 — in the Wallingford Little League.

Statistically speaking, the chance that Muttitt is coaching a player that will reach the major leagues is remote. Even the odds of coaching a team that reaches the Little League World Series are slim. But the chances of him coaching a future college player or a high school varsity player are good.

Or perhaps, he is inspiring the next great coach.

For Muttitt, the person he tries to emulate is Joe Morrell, the longtime commissioner of Shore Haven Junior Baseball who passed away on Aug. 5 at the age of 76. Morrell was involved with the league for 43 years, serving as a coach and as commissioner. The Shore Haven Sports Complex was named in his honor this past June.

Muttitt remained in contact with Morrell through the years and considered him a friend.

“Mr. Morrell taught valuable lessons that have stuck with me and I passed along to my kids,” he said. “Shirts tucked in, hats facing forward. Players are in a uniform. Be proud. Look like a ballplayer, play like a ballplayer. Shirts tucked in, hats forward is on my team rules for every level, T-Ball included. He also spoke about doing the little things right and I encourage, in fact, demand it, as well. Hustle all of the time for example.”

Muttitt said that Morrell’s most important attribute is that he “did everything for the kids.”

“His philosophy is key but so often lost,” Muttitt said. “I have been involved in many situations where it becomes very clear that coaches, managers, parents, etc. lose the focus of Little League or any youth sport. When things get heated or controversial, it is best to remember, kids are playing a game.”

Muttitt was not only the head coach/manager of his sons’ T-Ball and AA teams, he also served as commissioner of the league’s A-Ball division. At the height of the baseball season, much of his week was dedicated to coordinating practice schedules with the A-Ball coaches, organizing and scheduling practices for his own teams, communicating with parents, making arrangements with coaches to pick up equipment and later trophies, and of course coaching the players during the actual games.

He also managed an 8U developmental summer team and is helping coordinate the league’s fall ball program.

Muttitt said that nothing would get accomplished without his “very understanding, organized and supportive wife (Michelle).”

“Michelle is the glue of the family,” he said. “She keeps a master schedule and knows ‘who, what, when and where’ at all times. She gets the kids home from school, assures their homework is completed, gets the kids fed and has the boys dressed and ready so by the time I get home from work, all I do is change, load up the equipment and head out to the game.”

Muttitt said there are many reasons why he volunteers.

“First and foremost, I do it for the kids of our community,” he said. “I have been involved in baseball for many years, before I had my own kids. I always enjoyed working with kids, teaching the game and hopefully, some life lessons.

“As I had my own kids, I knew I wanted to be involved with their own teams. I have seen some very good and some very ugly in many years involved in youth sports. I certainly don’t know everything, but I knew what I could offer and I want to offer that to my teams, my league, my children, etc. I also know that not everyone has the time, ability or desire to do what it takes to run a team or the different elements of running a league. Sometimes it is as simple as, if I don’t do it, who will?”

(Photo: Brian Muttitt coaches during an 8U developmental summer league game. Photo courtesy of Michelle Muttitt)