MEDIA LSU RECORDS HISTORY REVIEW COA CHES TIGERS PREVIEW THIS IS LSU INTRO 02004LSU 80 Head Coach was named2003SECPlayer ofthe 291,676 patrons to Alex BoxStadium. drawing attendance record in2003, berthsince2000. LSU’s firstCWS Bears intwo ofthree gamestoearn defeatingthe Super Regionalseries, Tigers entertainedBaylor inanNCAA The eighth consecutiveregional title. straight seasonandcaptured its Regional tournamentforthe14th the final 5in asthe Tigers finishedNo. mark, all record anda20-9-1conference directed LSUtoa45-22-1over- Year, in theCollege World Series. LSU’s firstsince1997--andaberth title-- he guidedthe2003 Tigers to the program, son atthehelmofLSU injusthissecondsea- ball coachesas, R (.668,twoseasons) 89-44-1 AT LSU 330-203-1 (.619,nineseasons) CAREER RECORD The Tigers’ shortstop, Aaron Hill, Aaron shortstop, The Tigers’ total alsosetanNCAA LSU played hosttoan NCAA LSU aa,te20 E Coachofthe the2003SEC Laval, of thecountry’s topcollegebase- enhanced hisreputation asone aymond "Smoke"Laval Baseball America rankings. Laval 03SCCoachoftheYear 2003 SEC #22 | Head BaseballCoach SMOKE in sixCollege World Seriesandcap- appeared won fiveSECtitles, record, LSUposteda483-182-1 tant coach, DuringLaval's 10years asassis- 1993. first two NCAA titles in1991and helpingleadLSUtoits (1984-93), top assistantcoachfor10seasons Laval worked asBertman's tenure. during an18-year (1984-2001) College World Seriesappearances five NCAA championshipsand11 wholedthe Tigers to from Bertman, assumed control oftheLSUprogram University ofLouisiana-Monroe, (1994-2000) astheheadcoachat legendary SkipBertman. the lence created by hispredecessor, the phenomenaltradition ofexcel- continued Sportswriters Association, the Year by theLouisiana named the2002LouisianaCoachof Laval, 11 finalnationalranking. the NCAA SuperRegionalandaNo. anappearance in 44-22 overall mark, asheledthe2002 Tigers toa coach, in hisinaugural seasonasLSU's augmented thesuccessLaval enjoyed Blue Jays. tion (13thpickoverall) by the Toronto Hill was thefirst-round draft selec- Year andafirst-teamall-American. aa,whoserved seven seasons Laval, The magnificent ‘03 campaign Smoke playedalarge roleinmakingithappen." and That obviouslyhaschanged, walls whenwegothere wasfood. The onlythingonthelocker room orintheSEC. successful atLSU, whennobody believedbaseballcouldbe with meatthebeginning, Hewas thing necessarytoearnthepositionofheadcoachatLSU. Hehasdoneevery- "Smoke certainlydeservesthisopportunity. -- Former LSUhead coachandcurrentathleticsdirectorSkipBertman standing heritage. tunity toperpetuatethe Tigers' out- tor -rewarded Laval withtheoppor- Accordingly, Bertman -nowLSU'sathleticsdirec- baseball program. 1college has becomethenation'sNo. tured two nationalchampionships. Laval was knownatLSUasone Laval helpedBertmancreate what

Head Coach INTRO THIS IS LSU PREVIEW

Smoke and Pam Laval with children Jamie and Brandon, and dogs Ribby and Shortstop TIGERS

of the nation's best recruiters and Baltimore) and (New York brightest assistant coaches, as the Mets, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Tigers reached the College World Atlanta), and first-round draft picks Series in only the third season (1986) Ben McDonald (Baltimore, of the Bertman-Laval regime. LSU Milwaukee), (Cincinnati,

followed the '86 CWS appearance Minnesota), (Minnesota, CO

with Omaha berths in 1987, 1989 and Colorado, Cincinnati, Boston) and A CHES helped lead LSU to 1990 before the Tigers claimed the Russ Johnson (Houston, Tampa Bay, national championships in 1991 and 1993. school's first baseball national title in New York Mets). 1991. After LSU captured its second Laval has also worked as an eval- NCAA crown in 1993, Laval departed uator for USA Baseball, as he helped Baton Rouge to become the head select the members of the 2003 U.S.

"I know as well as coach at Northeast Louisiana (now Pan American Games team. REVIEW anyone the magnitude of Louisiana-Monroe). Laval compiled a 241-159 (.603) the expectations to win During his assistant coaching mark as the head coach at ULM, at LSU. That's why I'm tenure at LSU, Laval -- who worked guiding the Indians to NCAA here, and that's why our as the Tigers' primary recruiter - Regional appearances in 1995, 1999 tutored 24 players who would even- and 2000. The 2000 club posted a 41- players are here."

tually reach the major leagues. Some 22 mark en route to the Southland HIST of the major leaguers with whom Conference title, tying the ULM -- LSU head coach Smoke Laval

Laval worked include all-stars Albert record for wins. Laval, the 1999 SLC OR Belle (Cleveland, Chicago White Sox, Coach of the Year, also led the Indians Y to the 1999 regular-season title and to the 1995 conference tournament crown. He was voted the 1995

Louisiana Coach of the Year by the RECORDS Louisiana Sportswriters Association. Laval helped make ULM baseball one of the hottest attractions in the Northeast Louisiana region. The Coaches Committee, a baseball booster organization started by Laval, grew from 62 members in its first year to over 200 members by the end of LSU his tenure. Laval supervised major improve- ments to ULM's Indian Field, includ- ing the addition of an outdoor batting facility, a picnic area for Coaches

Smoke Laval (second from left) served as ’s Committee members, renovations to MEDIA (center) top assistant coach from 1984-93. the locker room, a players' lounge, a

OFFICIAL YEARBOOK 81

MEDIA LSU RECORDS HISTORY REVIEW COA CHES TIGERS PREVIEW THIS IS LSU INTRO 22004LSUBASEBALL 82 an excellentfitwithLSU." (LSU athletics)building student-athletes makehim Smoke Laval File his approachtothegame, continuity andleadership oetejbh i.He done thejobhedid. mohtasto.Coach smooth transition. Laval's record ofsuccess, atya,andwehave last year, held theteamtogether "I amextremely pleased baseball program inthe nation andallowsfora fe lwsat He after aslowstart. 0sot.Inmybest 20 sports. and hisconcernfor ie Icouldn'thave time, "Smoke didthebest eundt S.This returned toLSU. appointment provides that CoachLavalhas for thebestcollegiate coaching jobinthe oe theman . . moves . made alltheright knows baseball." - LSUChancellorMarkEmmert S AthleticsDirector - LSU Skip Bertman ting atthe1976NCAA SouthRegional. where heledtheninth-ranked Dolphinsinhit- pleted hisplaying career atJacksonville, Hecom- where helettered asacatcher. two seasonsatGulfCoastCommunityCollege, nativeplayed Pa., TheMcDonald, master's degree (1979) from LSUinadministration. ing toLSUwork underBertman. Fla. Panama City, Coast CommunityCollegein years asanassistant atGulf Lamabe before working two former Tiger headcoachJack tant atLSUin1979under He served asagraduate assis- a baseballandfootballcoach. High SchoolinJacksonville as before moving to Wolfson at career in1977as an assistant scoreboard. new soundsystem andanew aa n i ie a,aeteprnso w hlrn Brandon andJamie. are theparents oftwo children, Pam, Laval andhiswife, Laval holdsabachelor'sdegree (1977)from Jacksonville inphysical educationanda Laval served asanassistantcoachatFloridafortwo seasons(1982-83)before return- Laval beganhiscoaching 2002- ...... Head Coach . . .LSU Coach ..Head 2002- . .LSU ..Administrative Assistant 2001 Louisiana-Monroe of . . .University Coach ..Head 1994-2000 ..LSU Coach ..Assistant 1984-93 Florida of ..University Coach ..Assistant 1982-83 College Community Coast ..Gulf Coach ..Assistant 1980-81 ..LSU Coach ..Graduate Assistant 1979 Fla.) ..WolfsonCoach (Jacksonville, ..Assistant School High 1978 ..JacksonvilleUniversity Coach ..Assistant 1977 COACHING EXPERIENCE ..JacksonvilleUniversity ..Catcher 1976-77 College Community Coast ..Gulf ..Catcher 1974-75 School FayetteHigh ..South ..Catcher 1970-73 PLAYING EXPERIENCE ..LSU in Administration ..Master's 1979 ..JacksonvilleUniversity Education Physical in ..Bachelor's 1977 Pa.) (McDonald, FayetteHS ..South Diploma School ..High 1973 EDUCATION Brandon and ..Jamie Children: La. Pam ..FormerWife: Reserve, of Lewis Pa. McDonald, in 1955, 20, ..December Birthdate: Peter ..Raymond Laval Name: Full PERSONAL DATA 03SECCoach ofthe Year; Louisiana Sportswriters Association Coachofthe Year SEC Champions;College World NCAA SeriesParticipants RegionalChampions; NCAA SuperRegional Participants LouisianaSportswriters Association Coachofthe Year 2003 SouthlandConference Coachofthe Year 2002 LouisianaSportswriters Association Coachofthe Year 1999 1995 SLCChampions;NCAA RegionalParticipants LSU LSU COACHING HONORS SLCChampions;NCAA RegionalParticipants 45-22-1 UL-Monroe LedSLCInHittingFor Third Straight Season 44-22 2003 UL-Monroe BecameFourth CoachinULMHistory To Record 100 Wins 41-22 2002 UL-Monroe School-Record 41 Wins; SLCLouisianaDivisionChampions HIGHLIGHTS 36-22 2000 UL-Monroe SLC Tournament Champions;NCAA RegionalParticipants 33-22 1999 UL-Monroe NCAATournament DefeatedThree Teams 33-21 1998 UL-Monroe 41-19 1997 UL-Monroe SCHOOL 37-20 1996 20-33 1995 W-L 1994 YEAR HEAD COACHING RECORD

Assistant Coaches INTRO

TURTLE Thomas THIS IS LSU

#17 | Assistant Coach PREVIEW enry "Turtle" Thomas joined the Thomas' star pupil in 2000 was LSU More than 60 of Thomas' recruits HLSU staff on July 1, 1999, after catcher , who led the have gone on to play professional serving 12 seasons as an assistant nation in home runs (30) and RBI baseball, including major leaguers like coach at Miami (Fla.). Thomas serves (106). Cresse also won the 2000 catcher Charles Johnson, pitcher Alex as the Tigers' recruiting coordinator Johnny Bench Award as the nation's Fernandez, catcher Jorge Fabregas, and hitting instructor, and he super- most outstanding collegiate catcher. infielder Pat Burrell, outfielder Todd vises LSU's catchers. Thomas also tutored LSU short- Linden and pitcher Roy Corcoran. TIGERS Thomas has developed a reputa- stop Aaron Hill, the 2003 SEC Player Thomas is a 1975 graduate of High tion as one of the nation's best college of the Year and a first-team all- Point (N.C.) College, and he earned a baseball recruiters, as Collegiate America selection. Hill was the ‘03 master's degree from UNC- Baseball has ranked his LSU signing first-round draft selection (13th pick Greensboro in 1978. He was a four- classes among the top six in the nation overall) of the Toronto Blue Jays. year letterman at catcher, playing two for four consecutive years. His 2000 As the recruiting coordinator and seasons at Campbell University before and 2001 classes were rated No. 2, his hitting coach at Miami, Thomas completing his final two undergradu- CO A

2002 class earned the No. 3 ranking, helped lead the Hurricanes to six con- ate years at High Point. CHES and his 2003 class was rated No. 6. secutive appear- Thomas worked as an assistant Thomas’ record as LSU’s hitting ances (1994-99), including the 1999 coach at Clemson from 1979-85 instructor is also exemplary, as the national championship. before joining the Georgia Tech staff Tigers have led the Southeastern Collegiate Baseball ranked each of under current Miami head coach Jim Conference in hits, runs scored and his Miami recruiting classes from Morris. Thomas worked two years at RBI in three of the past four seasons. 1989-99 in the top 10. The 1989, '92 Georgia Tech, where he was elevated REVIEW The 2003 LSU club was No. 1 in the and '94 classes were ranked No. 1, and to assistant head coach. He was then league in eight offensive categories, the 1991 and '99 classes were ranked hired by legendary Miami coach Ron including home runs, hits, runs No. 2. Fraser on October 13, 1987. scored, RBI, doubles, total bases, plate In addition to his recruiting duties, Thomas is married to the former appearances and at-bats. Thomas served as Miami's hitting Maria Carmen Nateman, and they

Thomas' impact at LSU was coach from 1996-99. In his first three have three children, Kevin, Kristen HIST immediate, as he helped direct the seasons in that capacity, the and Keith.

Tigers to the 2000 CWS title. Under Hurricanes posted a .334 team batting Finally, why the name "Turtle?" OR

his supervision, LSU's hitters estab- average and a .557 slugging percent- Thomas explains, "It wasn't Y lished Southeastern Conference sin- age while averaging more than nine because I was slow, some kid in junior gle-season records for hits (864) and runs per game. Miami's 1999 NCAA high school thought I looked like a doubles (194), and the Tigers set a championship team batted .333 and turtle." school mark for batting average (.340). launched 104 home runs. RECORDS

THE THOMAS FILE

PERSONAL DATA Year at LSU: ...... Fifth Birthdate: ...... January 17, 1953 Hometown : ...... High Point, N.C. Wife: ...... Maria LSU Children: ...... Kevin, Kristen, Keith Bachelors: ...... High Point College (1975) Master's: ...... UNC-Greensboro (1978)

COACHING EXPERIENCE 1979-85 ...... Clemson (asst. coach) 1986-87 ...... Georgia Tech (asst. head coach) 1988-99 ...... Miami, Fla. (asst. coach/recruiting coordinator) MEDIA Turtle and Maria Thomas with children Keith, Kevin, 2000- ...... LSU (asst. coach/recruiting coordinator) and Kristen, and granddaughter Katiana

OFFICIAL YEARBOOK 83

MEDIA LSU RECORDS HISTORY REVIEW COA CHES TIGERS PREVIEW THIS IS LSU INTRO 42004LSUBASEBALL 84 idrod ULMin2000setthe Wiederhold, Under nation's fifth-bestrotation. Wombacher --combinedtoformthe Kenny HolubecandMike Orga, Indians' topthree pitchers--Kevin andthe al ranking inteamERA, ULM pitchingstafftoa Top 15nation- State. the pitchingcoachatKennesaw (Ga.) Wiederhold worked fourseasonsas head coachBrad Holland. he served in2001undercurrent ULM and the NCAA BatonRougeRegional, whentheIndiansadvanced to in 2000, He was SmokeLaval's pitchingcoach pitching coachatLouisiana-Monroe. Wiederhold worked two seasonsasthe Jake TompkinsWilson, andBoPettit. Brian draft selections:BillySadler, worked withfour2003major-league Wiederhold also and Justin Meier. America selectionsJason Determann Nate BumsteadandFreshman all- Wiederhold tutored all-SEChurler Conference instrikeoutswith515. pitching staffthatledtheSoutheastern Tigers' administrative assistant. 2002 afterserving oneseasonasthe to pitchingcoachinthesummerof B Assistant Coaches 03 ...... S as.coach/pitching) (asst. ..LSU 2003- asst.) (administrative ..LSU 2002 coach/pitching) (asst. ..Louisiana-Monroe 2000-01 coach/pitching) (asst. State ..Kennesaw 1996-99 coach) (asst. ..Oglethorpe 1994-95 COACHING EXPERIENCE (1994) State (Ga.) ..Kennesaw Bachelors: baby new Dec. in TBA ..Dalton, Children: ..Aimee Wife: Ga. ..Columbus, Hometown: 1970 21, ..November Birthdate: ..Third YearLSU: at PERSONAL DATA Wiederhold in2000directed the Prior tohistenure atULM, Prior tocomingLSU, Wiederhold supervised a2003LSU icigcah Hewas promoted pitching coach. ond seasonin2003asLSU’s rady Wiederhold beginshissec- THE WIEDERHOLDFILE #26 |Assistant Coach Wiederhold BRADY agtr Daira. daughter, andanewborn Dalton, old son, andthey have atwo-year- Wooster, married totheformer Aimee heis Ga., A nativeofColumbus, ment from Kennesaw Statein1994. elor's ofscienceinsportsmanage- team. Athletic Conference all-Freshman the 1990Georgia Intercollegiate player asaseniorandwas selectedto named thesquad'stopdefensive Theformercatcherwas 1990-93. terman atKennesaw Statefrom Eastern Divisiontitlein1994. Conference Collegiate Athletic percentage) withaSouthern went 46-28overall (.622winning theStormy Petrels at Oglethorpe, Duringhisstay University in Atlanta. assistant coachatOglethorpe Wiederhold spenttwo seasonsasan 1997 and1998. ing staffsledthenationinERA Wiederhold's KSUpitch- and 1999. title andwere runners-upin1998 KSUwon the1996national Series. in fourDivisionIICollege World theOwlsappeared Kennesaw State, wins. mark enroute toaschool-record 41 school's single-seasonstrikeout idrod 3 earnedhisbach- 33, Wiederhold, Wiederhold was afour-year let- Prior tohisstintatKSU, During Wiederhold's tenure at Brady andAimeeWiederhold withDalton andDaira Assistant Coaches INTRO

JODY Autery THIS IS LSU #20 | Assistant Coach PREVIEW ody Autery is in his third season as LSU's volunteer assis- Jtant coach after working two seasons as a student assis- tant for the Tigers. Autery, 29, coaches the LSU outfielders, and he serves as the Tigers’ third-base coach. He also works as director of the Smoke Laval Baseball Camp. Autery coached two 2003 all-SEC outfielders, Ryan Patterson and Jon Zeringue. TIGERS A native of Pine Hill, Ala., Autery was a pitcher at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., where he helped TED lead his team to a runners-up finish at the 1995 NAIA College World Series.Autery also played tight end for the Cumberland football team. White Autery played baseball, football and basketball as a prep CO athlete at Catherine (Ala.) Academy, which captured two Administrative Assistant A Alabama state football titles during his career. CHES He won all-state football honors in 1992 and all-state baseball recognition in 1992 and ‘93. A 2001 LSU graduate, he earned a master's degree in ed White, a former all-Southland Conference sports management in 2002. Tcatcher/third baseman at Louisiana-Monroe, is in Autery and his wife, the former Beth Collins, were married his second season on the LSU staff as administra- REVIEW in 1996. They are the parents of triplets - Beau, Gracie and tive assistant. White, 24, played at ULM from 1998-2002 Faith -- born October 1, 2002. and performed for his first three seasons under the tute- lage of current LSU coach Smoke Laval. White received first-team all-SLC honors in his jun- ior season, leading the Indians to a second-place finish THE AUTERY FILE in the 2000 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional. A thumb injury forced White to receive a medical HIST PERSONAL DATA redshirt in 2001, and in 2002, he served as the Indians' Year at LSU: ...... Fifth team captain and received second-team all-conference Birthdate: ...... July 22, 1974 OR Hometown: ...... Pine Hill, Ala. accolades as a third baseman. Y Wife: ...... Beth White earned honorable mention all-conference Children: ...... Beau, Gracie, Faith recognition as a freshman, and he was a second-team Bachelors: ...... LSU (2001) Master’s: ...... LSU (2002) all-SLC choice in his sophomore season.

He was the battery mate for two seasons (1998-99) RECORDS COACHING EXPERIENCE of ULM all-American and Olympic gold medalist Ben 2000-01 ...... LSU (student asst. coach) 2002- ...... LSU (asst. coach) Sheets, who currently pitches for the Milwaukee Brewers. A Pittsburgh, Pa., native, White was a four-year let- terman in baseball and basketball at Bethel Park High School.

THE WHITE FILE LSU

PERSONAL DATA Year at LSU: . . . . .Second Birthdate: ...... June 21, 1979 Hometown: ...... Pittsburgh, Pa. Bachelors: ...... Louisiana-Monroe (2002)

COACHING EXPERIENCE MEDIA 2003- LSU (administrative asst.)

Jody and Beth Autery with triplets Faith, Gracie, and Beau

OFFICIAL YEARBOOK 85 MEDIA LSU RECORDS HISTORY REVIEW COA CHES TIGERS PREVIEW THIS IS LSU INTRO 62004LSU BASEBALL 86 Support StaffSupport former all-SECsoftballplayer atLSU. education. a master'sdegree from Vanderbilt inhealthpromotion and in 1994from theUniversityof Healsoearned West Virginia. for two years. where heworked asagraduate assistanttrainer University, rehabilitation. he supervises the Tigers' needsintheareas ofmedicineand S back fortheRagin'Cajunsfootballteamfouryears. Hewas adefensive 1999 withadegree inexercise science. exercise specialist. aswellan vate sectorasafitnessconsultantandtrainer, the volleyball andsoccerteams. and implementingstrength andconditioningprograms for andhewas alsoresponsible fordeveloping football program, two seasonspriortohispromotion. served asagraduate assistantintheLSUweightroom for within theLSUkinesiologydepartmentinMay of2002, mer of2002. W dy 2 a are nJl,20,t sleDct,a to Ashlee Ducote, 2002, was marriedinJuly, 32, Eddy, Eddy earnedabachelor'sdegree inexercise physiology Eddy cametoLSUinJuly of1996from Vanderbilt Jones graduated from Louisiana-Lafayette inMay of Jones worked inthepri- Prior tojoiningtheLSUstaff, Jones worked withtheLSU As agraduate assistant, whograduated withaMasterofSciencedegree Jones, Publicist/Stadium Announcer epniiiyi okn ihtebsbl rga,as responsibility isworking withthebaseballprogram, Hisprimary er fortheLSUathleticdepartment. hawn Eddy isinhiseighthseasonasanassistanttrain- being promoted toassistantcoordinator inthesum- of theLSUstrength andconditioningstaffafter ill Jones isinhissecondyear asafull-timemember Bill Franques Conditioning Coordinator Assistant Strength & Jones WILL Assistant Trainer Eddy SHAWN Virginia Robertson Secretary Pamela Workman Student Trainer ono ac 9 1982. born onMarch 19, linebacker andinbaseballasacatcher. where heearnedlettersinfootballasa School inNew Orleans, G uut1,1983. August 13, Hewas bornon is abusinessmanagementmajoratLSU. 1999. lead Brother Martintostatecross country titlesin1998and Hehelped cross country andswimming(teamcaptain). fielder), where heparticipatedinbaseball(right School inNew Orleans, R B rm"H a ono uy1,1983. gram." Hewas bornonJuly 11, dream toattendschoolhere andbeapartofthebaseballpro- where heparticipatedinbaseballandsoccer. School, rngni aoigi eea tde tLU Hewas Branigan ismajoringingeneral studiesatLSU. rngn whoseinterests includeswimmingandrunning, Branigan, ai,asot tde ao tLU says "itisalife-long asportsstudiesmajoratLSU, Babin, ozls a,Babinprepped atEast Ascension High La., Gonzales, Anativeof manager fortheLSUbaseballprogram. yan Babinisinhisthird seasonasastudentequipment enr a,Branigan prepped atBrother MartinHigh La., Kenner, Anativeof ment managerfortheLSUbaseballprogram. eorge Branigan isinhisfourthseasonasastudentequip- enr a,Branigan prepped atBrother MartinHigh La., Kenner, Anativeof manager fortheLSUbaseballprogram. Branigan isinhisthird seasonasastudentequipment .J. Student Secretary Kellie O’Neal Equipment Manager Branigan GEORGE Equipment Manager Branigan B.J. Equipment Manager Babin RYAN Bridget Raymond Student Secretary