Baseball Staff Changes

[moorecajun]

I firmly believe we haven't seen our best days yet and the future is extremely bright!

I am also very happy each of these men are part of our staff, our culture and our community.

GEAUX CAJUNS!

[Big Poppa]

Daniel Freeman would have been named to the staff, but the third paid assistant was voted down.

Anyway.....

I'm over the top on our staff. I've talked a lot about chemistry in the past and the problem with chemistry is, you can't see it all the time. We had a sport that was able to overcome chemistry issues, but it's hard to do. Conversely, great chemistry in baseball led us to our first at large bid in a decade this past season.

I also remember, years ago, speaking with Troy Wingerter about it "meaning more" when you are an alumnus or have ties to the area. It becomes personal. And, before 2011 when we made our first bowl game, Troy was very candid about his frustration.

ZACH LAFLEUR--Played for UL. Has a degree from UL. He was a second generation student-athlete at UL. It's personal

GUNNER LEGER--Played for UL. Has a degree from UL. Dad coaches at UL. It's personal.

SETH THIBODEAUX--is a Cajun. His home is 25 minutes from here. He's here because he wanted so badly to be a Ragin' Cajun. It's personal.

MATT DEGGS--became our head coach four years ago today. He says he's here because Coach Robe saved his life and saved his family. It was his destiny. He's as proud to wear Louisiana across his chest as anyone who has ever worn the red and white. For him, it's REALLY personal.

I'm going to say this now. There is no coaching staff in America more passionate about their school than these guys. They aren't here looking for their next job. They're here because they believe we can get to where we rightfully belong.

And, if you don't think that counts for something, think again.

Was Zach LaFleur’s mother a student athlete?

[JayWalker]

Was Zach LaFleur’s mother a student athlete?

She was. Janine Johnson Lafleur was an outstanding third baseman during the Stefni Whitton era.

[Louisiana84]

Daniel Freeman would have been named to the staff, but the third paid assistant was voted down.

Anyway.....

I'm over the top on our staff. I've talked a lot about chemistry in the past and the problem with chemistry is, you can't see it all the time. We had a sport that was able to overcome chemistry issues, but it's hard to do. Conversely, great chemistry in baseball led us to our first at large bid in a decade this past season.

I also remember, years ago, speaking with Troy Wingerter about it "meaning more" when you are an alumnus or have ties to the area. It becomes personal. And, before 2011 when we made our first bowl game, Troy was very candid about his frustration.

ZACH LAFLEUR--Played for UL. Has a degree from UL. He was a second generation student-athlete at UL. It's personal

GUNNER LEGER--Played for UL. Has a degree from UL. Dad coaches at UL. It's personal.

SETH THIBODEAUX--is a Cajun. His home is 25 minutes from here. He's here because he wanted so badly to be a Ragin' Cajun. It's personal.

MATT DEGGS--became our head coach four years ago today. He says he's here because Coach Robe saved his life and saved his family. It was his destiny. He's as proud to wear Louisiana across his chest as anyone who has ever worn the red and white. For him, it's REALLY personal.

I'm going to say this now. There is no coaching staff in America more passionate about their school than these guys. They aren't here looking for their next job. They're here because they believe we can get to where we rightfully belong.

And, if you don't think that counts for something, think again.

Thanks, Jay!

[Dad04]

Jay, thanks for this, we/I really appreciate it and clearly this means allot to these men. Here is my question, and believe me I am not trying to discount anything you have posted here, on the contrary, I am just trying to decipher with the personal connections of each of these guys, how good/great is this staff really?

Do any/each of these guys individually have chances to coach elsewhere at a higher level but are choosing to stay at UL because it is personal. We all agree that the fact that it is personal makes this a really good staff, but staying here and coaching when they could be somewhere else but chose to be here makes it even better.

My thoughts are that Coach Deggs has probably had and may have future opportunities to coach at a bigger program if that is what he wants to do. I am not sure if that is the case or not, the wanting to coach at a higher level (ie SEC/ACC).

Gunner, I doubt it, just because the coaching at the NCAA D1 level is new to him.

Seth Thibodeaux, chose to be here, but it was because he was let go from Nicholls, did he have other offers and came to UL and were those offers at a HC level and/or at a bigger program. I think ST is a really good coach and did some good things at Nicholls. But I doubt very seriously if he was a hugely sought after commodity when he was let go from Nicholls but he may have had other offers to be an assistant somewhere, now that may well change as UL continues to progress.

Zach Lafleur--I don't know either way whether he has had other opportunities are not in the coaching world.

I appreciate the analysis. However, they are not coaching individually. They are collectively coaching a team of players. It's different than giving individual pitching or hitting lessons down at the cage. I think its a pretty salty combination. FWIW, I believe Gunner could get a ton of interviews for open D1 pitching coach jobs, probably some P5 jobs. He's Gunner Freaking Leger.

[CajunVic]

. . . we have a star cast for the show . . . let the show go on . . . post season two years in a row . . . we com’n . . .

[CajunEXPRESS]

. . . we have a star cast for the show . . . let the show go on . . . post season two years in a row . . . we com’n . . .

USM 16 straight before this season I believe. Regardless at large bids are awesome

[Louisiana84]

Good point, Jerry. The SBC is one salty baseball league.

[Rainman66]

I appreciate the analysis. However, they are not coaching individually. They are collectively coaching a team of players. It's different than giving individual pitching or hitting lessons down at the cage. I think its a pretty salty combination. FWIW, I believe Gunner could get a ton of interviews for open D1 pitching coach jobs, probably some P5 jobs. He's Gunner Freaking Leger.

It is REALLY difficult to become a paid assistant coach at the D1 level. It just became easier with the 3rd paid assistant, but before that it was really tough.

I truly believe Gunner will excel in his role, but make no mistake, he got this job because of his ties to the program and to Coach Robe's pitching style. However, I don't think there were a ton of D1 programs knocking down his door, as someone with little to no coaching experience.

[JayWalker]

It is REALLY difficult to become a paid assistant coach at the D1 level. It just became easier with the 3rd paid assistant, but before that it was really tough.

I truly believe Gunner will excel in his role, but make no mistake, he got this job because of his ties to the program and to Coach Robe's pitching style. However, I don't think there were a ton of D1 programs knocking down his door, as someone with little to no coaching experience.

How he got this job is irrelevant. What he does with it is everything.

[CajunVic]

. . . really . . . every job a candidate gets at any place or occupation is somewhat dependent upon characteristics that applicant has which are inherently favored for the particular job . . .

[Dad04]

It is REALLY difficult to become a paid assistant coach at the D1 level. It just became easier with the 3rd paid assistant, but before that it was really tough.

I truly believe Gunner will excel in his role, but make no mistake, he got this job because of his ties to the program and to Coach Robe's pitching style. However, I don't think there were a ton of D1 programs knocking down his door, as someone with little to no coaching experience.

Not sure I claimed "there were a ton of D1 programs knocking down his door." I said he could get interviews, which is not the same thing. Hopefully, we won't ever cross that bridge.

Someone could infer from your post you think it was a actually bad hire, but I won't.