From Two Elbow Surgeries to Smarter Pitching Development with Coach Michael Richard

Most pitching programs still treat every athlete the same.

But pitchers aren’t the same.

In this episode of the More Than Velocity Podcast, we talk with Michael Richard, founder of Custom Pitch Academy and pitching coach at Northern High School in Maryland. Michael shares how his own experience with multiple elbow surgeries shaped his philosophy on pitching development—and why individualized training is the future.

We discuss:

• Why cookie-cutter throwing programs fall short • How strength, mechanics, and arm health actually interact • Lessons learned from implementing the ArmCare system with real athletes • Why injury history often creates the best pitching coaches • How data can help coaches build stronger, safer pitchers

Michael also walks through his background—from growing up in a legendary Washington high school program to pitching in college—and how those experiences shaped the way he trains athletes today.

If you’re a coach, parent, or player who wants to build velocity without sacrificing arm health, this conversation dives deep into the principles that matter most.