By STEVE KRAH
Relationships took Jamar Weaver to Huntington University as a student-athlete and they’ve got him back with the Foresters as a coach.
Weaver, who played four baseball seasons the Frames — father Mike and son Thad — graduated from HU in 2018 as a double major in Management and Marketing was hired in June to join the coaching staff for 2023-24.
Weaver spent the better part of three years in purchasing at Keystone RV in Goshen, Ind., after college while also serving as an assistant at Westview Junior/Senior High School near Topeka, Ind., 2019-21. He and wife Ciara Borg-Weaver moved to Chicago and Jamar handled the website for the family business — Weaver Furniture Sales in Shipshewana, Ind. — remotely.
Ciara Borg-Weaver is also a Westview graduate. As a dance major at Ball State University her likeness appeared on banners and billboards as part of the “We Fly” marketing campaign. The couple was married in May 2021.
An invitation from Thad Frame, who took over as head coach for the 2022-23 season, put a change in their lives.
“After spending quite a few months praying about it and talking to my wife about it, I felt like God was pushing us back to Huntington,” says Weaver, 28. “Thad’s a big reason for that. He’s an outstanding recruiter and relationship builder.
“One of the big reasons I came to Huntington was the relationship I built with Thad. He developed into an older brother figure for me. I stayed connect with him through the years even after I graduated.
“(Long-time Foresters head coach Mike Frame) was a good figure in my life. He was hard-nosed, expected the best from guys and pushed guys to play with a passion and desire.”
Weaver was a second baseman his freshman and sophomore years, moved to center field as a junior then split time between second base and shortstop as a senior.
His last two seasons, he hit .281 and .275 with 43 runs batted in, 68 runs scored and 17 stolen bases. The 2017 team went 35-13 and played in the NAIA national tournament.
As a player at Westview, Weaver played his last three seasons for Huntington graduate Jason Rahn then served on his coaching staff.
“Jason is another one I look to as an older brother figure,” says Weaver. “Some of the things he taught me was to coach guys differently. Not everyone is built the same way and handles the same style of coaching.
“He was harder on some guys — me being one of them — because he recognized that they can handle that tough coaching and correction. Other guys need more encouragement and positive feedback.”
Joel Mishler was Weaver’s head coach as a Westview freshman.
“I took a lot of lessons from him growing up and also played in the (Indiana) Chargers (travel) organization (founded by Mishler),” says Weaver. “He taught me how to play the game the right way. A lot of the ideas I’ve taken on how to attack the game of baseball I got from him.”
Mishler instilled the concept of respect for the game and people in it and hustling.
“He laid the groundwork,” says Weaver. “He has a vast knowledge of the game and is well-connected throughout baseball.”
Weaver played in the youth leagues around Shipshewana, including a Sandy Koufax League while in junior high.
Father Mervin Weaver, who comes from an Amish background, is a big basketball fan but also encouraged his son’s affinity for the diamond.
“He recognized I had a passion for baseball,” says Jamar Weaver. “He supported me in all of that.
“He soaked in as much information as he could. I owe a lot to my father.”
Mervin Weaver watched baseball videos, threw plenty of batting practice and hit many ground balls.
On the hardwood, Jamar scored 388 career points. When Westview was the 2014 IHSAA Class 2A state runner-up to Park Tudor, Weaver was selected as an Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award winner.
“That was a special year,” says Weaver. “At the time I didn’t see the significance of that award. It has been brought up multiple times.
“Seeing the names of those who won it before me and even afterward really put an emphasis on how cool that award is. It really means a lot.”
As a Huntington baseball assistant, Weaver’s duties include coordinating defense and baserunning and sharing recruiting with new pitching new Mike Mokma.
Weaver notes that recruiting has been focused on pitching with a few spots needed in the infield and outfield.
“We’re looking to add depth,” says Weaver.
Each recruiting class has around 10 players — give or take a few.
Graduate assistant Langston Ginder helps Thame on the offensive side of things for the Foresters. Huntington went 37-16 overall and 27-9 in the Crossroads League in 2023.
www.IndianaRBI.com 