Yesterday, I ran the first of a two-part interview with Tim Walton, the head coach of the Florida Gators, who won the National Championship three months ago today.

In Part I of the interview with Coach Walton, the California native talked about what it was like to win an NCAA title in baseball as the winning pitcher at Oklahoma in 1994 and how that impacted his life. He also spoke about how he returned to Oklahoma at the invitation of current softball head coach Patty Gasso and was part of a national championship there in 2000.

Today’s conversation with the Gator head man covers his thoughts on how he built a winning program at Florida, his philosophies and team rules, what he looks for in a prospect at an event and what young players today are doing right and wrong on and off the field.

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FullCountSoftball.com: When you began at Florida in 2006, what was the first priority for you in turning the program into a national power?
Tim Walton: I wanted to build a program to not just win, but to make a difference. I wanted a booster club who appreciates the athletes, players who want to make an impact in the community, seniors who want to be the best friend of a freshman. I feel we’re getting there, and when we won the championship, it showed that we’re getting to be an elite program. We’re doing it the right way by building character and last year’s players and alumni and those before now have something to hang their hat on. The program is more important than any coach or player. It’s about building the Gator brand into something that’s permanent and impactful.

FCS.com: Great programs in any sport and at any level have an organizational philosophy and culture… what would you say defines what you’ve built at Florida?
TW: I think character and integrity are the two things I lean on the most. I would argue that all the programs who win regularly all have intangibles in their work ethic. But you can’t have a sound work ethic without character and integrity, not just on the field but off the field as well.

FCS.com: How would you say softball has changed in your decade-plus of coaching, not only at the college level, but down into club and high school ball?
TW: There are so many more teams at the lower levels and grassroots levels now, so many more tournaments.It’s so much more of a business than when I first got into the game in 1999. There are many more teams winning than before who are able to compete at the travel and college level. Parity has set in and there’s a lot of good coaching and players investing their resources to make the sport better. You don’t just have the same four or five teams always battling at the club levels now, there are more teams capable of winning it all because the talent is spread across the map.

FCS.com: This year’s Florida roster had players from seven different states, including three from California. Winning obviously attracts talent, but how did you initially get players from the West Coast to leave the Pac-12 and go all the way across the country?
TW: A little has to do with what we built as a program and a little is what the University of Florida paints in people’s household as an academic institution. I’ll be honest, though, when I came here it was because of the football program. The team won national championships in 2006 and 2008 and I wanted to have that big-time college atmosphere and to be able to sell it for softball as well. Basketball has done a lot to create that atmosphere and TV has done a lot too. But the key is the school gives such a good education that girls want to aspire to. A lot of the girls’ majors here – like speech pathology — we’re just as competitive nationally in the major as we are on the softball field. With the academics plus the atmosphere here I can sell to recruits and their families that here they will treat you like a professional. Athletes in Gainesville do community service, sign autographs and appear on TV and you’re prepared when you leave here to be successful in life as a leader.

FCS.com: Let’s talk club-age players now… when you show up at a tournament or showcase today, what is the first thing that catches your eye in a player?
TW: It’s so funny, I don’t watch a kid for very long. I look at the player and have a certain look that I’m after, usually it’s swing mechanics to match in my mind what I want. We spend so much time with my hitters and I don’t like to bring in a kid that I’ll have to overhaul mechanics, it’s just not fair in the relationship between me and her. I look for a swing chemistry that matches what I’m looking for and defensively I feel if a kid can hit I can get them better on defense.

FCS.com: In your opinion, what are today’s young players doing right and doing wrong, both on the field and in the recruiting process?
TW: I feellike hitters are a lot more professional today–some kids hit five to seven times a week–and you have to do that to excel. One thing I hear that I feel is wrong is the term “showcasing,” which is killing the athlete. When I show up to a game I want to see the catcher throw down to second, the shortstop throwing to first and everyone playing with a purpose and with passion. I feel like many are playing like it’s a business, rather than showing an energy where they’re having fun. I tell my 14-year-old son that there’s always somebody watching you at all times, but kids are playing so many games they just turn it on and turn it off now. I was taught to play hard all the time, and it’s important to have the right blend. Some kids don’t try hard enough and some try too hard, so I’m looking for someone who has a calm and confidence, will go hard but not out of control and also not be lazy. You can’t fake passion, and that’s the key. That’s the only reason I’ve gotten to the level I have as a coach is because I’ve always had that passion.

FCS.com: When you speak to a group of young people today, what is the primary message you want them to hear?
TW: It’s something I’m trying to get my own kids to understand and that is you have to have respect for those around you. There should be a level of respect for parents and teachers – those who are trying to help you be your best in life. One thing I learned at a young age is that when someone calls me “Coach” it’s a huge level of respect and when you act that way you’ll go further in life.

I have a team rules system which are the G.A.T.O.R.S. rules that my team sees whenever they walk in the front door. Respect yourself is one of the rules.

They are:

Go to class
Act responsibly
Tell the truth
Obey the law
Respect yourself
Show up on time

These are on a sign and every player signs it. We’ve even put it on bracelets. It’s who we are, and it’s part of our culture.

Click here to read Part I of the interview with Coach Walton