DATE: Sunday, June 15, 1997                 TAG: 9706150061

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

TYPE: COLUMN 

SOURCE: Paul South

                                            LENGTH:   70 lines

A DAD'S LOVE HELPS A SON SHAG A CAREER

Tucked away at the Nave home in Sevierville, Tenn., is evidence of Jayson Nave's first baseball memory.

``We have pictures of my dad and I throwing baseballs together in the snow,'' Nave says, smiling at the remembrance. ``My dad's great. He grew up on a farm, and wound up graduating from the University of Tennessee Dental School at 20 or 21. He's so disciplined.''

Jayson Nave's mind these days isn't on dentistry - his father's life's work - or the farm or the University of Tennessee, where he got his first college coaching experience as part of Rod Delmonico's staff. In his first year as an assistant, Nave helped the Vols to a Southeastern Conference title and a berth in the College World Series.

Now the Old Dominion University assistant toils in Manteo as field manager of the Outer Banks Daredevils. On a sunny Thursday at Coy Tillett Memorial Field, Nave slaps hard grounders at third baseman Hunter Bledsoe, as the Vanderbilt infielder hones his defensive skills.

Just another day at the office for the 25-year-old.

``I love it here,'' Nave says. ``I've been in coaching for three years - two at Tennessee and one at Old Dominion. I was a pitcher at King's College in Bristol, Tenn. Then I went to UT to coach. I've seen small-college baseball and I've been at one of the best programs in the nation. Old Dominion is somewhere in between.''

As he climbed each rung on the baseball ladder, Nave learned new lessons.

``At Tennessee, Coach Delmonico taught me a lot about the business of baseball,'' Nave says. ``The importance of camps, the books, dealing with the media and the public, the videotapes, a lot of things off the field.''

Nave also counts as blessings his time at Old Dominion.

``It's a totally different atmosphere,'' Nave says. ``It's more about players and much more about team building for Coach (Tony) Guzzo. He's much more open with players. But I've been blessed to see different sides.''

This summer is Nave's first shot as a head coach for college players. The Daredevils, made up of college players from throughout the nation, compete in the new Coastal Plain League.

``Ours is the youngest team in the league,'' Nave says. ``We've got a lot of freshmen and sophomores. We've got a lot of growing to do. But the other teams, who have more experienced players, are as good as they're going to get.

``In these first days, I've been trying to make sure that our guys are comfortable in a new place. I mean, you've got kids from California, New York, southern Mississippi. You've got to help them find their comfort zone. I have to be their dad, their coach, their friend. It's my job to make sure they keep their confidence. If we're not a better team by the middle of July, then I haven't done a good job. But these are great kids.''

The lessons Nave tries to bring to the Daredevil clubhouse are as old as the Scriptures and as common-sensical as Mark Twain. They take on an added glow on this Father's Day.

``The values I have, I got from my father,'' Nave said. ``First is a work ethic. For as long as I can remember, my dad has gotten up at 6 in the morning and gone to work. I respect that so much.

``I also want to be a role model for the guys. I believe you have to have confidence in yourself as a person and as a player. I want the guys in this group to leave with that at the end of the summer.''

And for all the nuggets of wisdom passed from Rod Delmonico at Tennessee and Tony Guzzo at ODU, the fire in Jayson Nave's baseball heart is stoked by the love of his father.

``I can remember the exact moment I knew I wanted to become a coach,'' Nave says, gazing toward centerfield. ``I was sitting in the outfield during my sophomore year, and it hit me. I knew right then and there I wanted to coach. My dad was great. He just said, `If you're going to do it, be your best.' I'll never forget that about my dad. He's something else.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color illustration]

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