LSUS Coach’s Journey: He’s Guiding the Blue Jays’ Next Generation of Stars

Just yesterday, LSU-Shreveport got to celebrate their undefeated, championship winning season at the White House. But, that championship winning team weren't the only Pilots celebrating on Monday.

A former LSU-S coach's current employer just punched their ticket to the World Series.

Mitch Huckabay's Journey From NSU

When we think of 'sports stars', our mind naturally thinks "player". But, there's a lot of folks that contribute to the successes of major sports teams. And that's where Mitch Huckabay comes in. He's not a household name, a player, or a big name manager (yet). But, his contributions will be felt throughout the Toronto Blue Jays organization for years to come.

Hailing from Texas, Huckabay took his first steps to success right here in Louisiana playing for Northwestern State University and Louisiana State University at Alexandria. He had a decent playing career, but it's what he did AFTER his playing days that is what we're talking about.

From LSUS to the Blue Jays Organization

As it says in his NSU profile, he wanted to play or coach baseball. He may have not made it as a player but he's had quite the coaching career so far. Following graduation, he was graduate assistant coach at Southern Arkansas University while earning a master degree in kinesiology.

In the 2018 & 2019 seasons, he took his first full-time coaching job where he served as an assistant coach for the LSU-Shreveport Pilots. During those years, the Pilots won back to back regular season conference championships. He then moved on to several other jobs including Vernon College, Northeast Texas Community College and Sam Houston State. 

Following a successful college career, he was hired by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023 to be the hitting coach for the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Meaning he's been working with the team's top prospects including Orelvis Martinez, Alan Roden, Steward Berroa, Luis De Los Santos and Leo Jimenez. Several players have already broken through to the major league level both in Toronto and across the major leagues - although none are currently on the World Series roster. But, I'm sure the Blue Jays are hoping the guys he's working with daily will help them sustain organizational success for years and years to come.