Spectators at an ISU club baseball game might notice something unusual from the typical athletics event. That’s because the team is not managed by a coach.

The team is managed by club president Tyler Strub and vice president Jeff Peterson. The two of them take care of the lineups, pitching rotation and anything else a baseball coach would typically do.

The answer to why the baseball team does not have a coach is not that complicated.

“We can’t afford one,” Strub said. “It’s a lot of time for someone to be putting in for free.”

There is only one team in the Mid-America Conference’s north division that has a coaching figure. That team is rival Iowa, who is coached by Jamie O’Meara. Strub said O’Meara is a graduate student that has stayed with the team to manage.

“I don’t think a paid coach makes that big of a difference,” Strub said. “As long as you have good leadership on a team, I don’t think a coach is necessary.”

Entering his fourth season with the team, Peterson had enough experience and leadership skills to be elected vice president for this season. These elections have always been the style for selecting leaders on the club team.

“It’s always been student-run,” Peterson said. “I really like that system at a college club level, because it keeps it informal and fun, and that’s really why we’re out here.”

Finding advantages to not having a full-time paid coach may seem difficult, but Strub didn’t waste time mentioning the obvious one.

“We have more fun,” Strub said. “We can make our own decisions as far as when we want to practice and how long we want to practice.”

Strub acknowledged that sometimes with the team making its own decisions it could be a good or bad thing, but he isn’t worried about his teammates this season.

“We have a really motivated team this year, so it’s really not an issue,” Strub said.

Sophomore Joe Nettleton said even though it is more laid-back, there isn’t any slacking.

“The competition is still there,” Nettleton said. “We all push each other to get better, but it’s not quite as strict.”

The club team format also allows a unique aspect of the game — playing alongside the coaches.

“I kind of like it,” said Chaska, Minn., native Brad Hallman. “You can relate to them better.”

Hallman also said he likes not having a coach in club baseball and sees a difference between teams that do have coaches and Iowa State.

“I feel like if they have a coach, then they are too legit and trying to stretch it out to be something they’re not,” Hallman said. “It’s just club, it’s just fun. Get out there and play baseball, that’s what I’m here for.”