Head Coach INTRO LavalSMOKE THIS IS LSU #22 | Head Baseball Coach 2003 SEC Coach of the Year CAREER RECORD Year and a first-team all-American. 330-203-1 (.619, nine seasons) Hill was the first-round draft selec- PREVIEW tion (13th pick overall) by the Toronto AT LSU Blue Jays. 89-44-1 (.668, two seasons) The magnificent ‘03 campaign augmented the success Laval enjoyed aymond "Smoke" Laval in his inaugural season as LSU's Renhanced his reputation as one coach, as he led the 2002 Tigers to a TIGERS of the country’s top college base- 44-22 overall mark, an appearance in ball coaches as, in just his second sea- the NCAA Super Regional and a No. son at the helm of the LSU program, 11 final national ranking. Laval, he guided the 2003 Tigers to the named the 2002 Louisiana Coach of Southeastern Conference title -- the Year by the Louisiana LSU’s first since 1997 -- and a berth Sportswriters Association, continued CHES A in the College World Series. the phenomenal tradition of excel- Laval, the 2003 SEC Coach of the CO lence created by his predecessor, the Year, directed LSU to a 45-22-1 over- legendary Skip Bertman. all record and a 20-9-1 conference Laval, who served seven seasons mark, as the Tigers finished No. 5 in (1994-2000) as the head coach at the the final Baseball America rankings. University of Louisiana-Monroe, LSU played host to an NCAA assumed control of the LSU program Regional tournament for the 14th from Bertman, who led the Tigers to REVIEW straight season and captured its five NCAA championships and 11 eighth consecutive regional title. The College World Series appearances Tigers entertained Baylor in an NCAA during an 18-year (1984-2001) tured two national championships. Super Regional series, defeating the tenure. Laval worked as Bertman's Laval helped Bertman create what Y Bears in two of three games to earn top assistant coach for 10 seasons has become the nation's No. 1 college OR LSU’s first CWS berth since 2000. (1984-93), helping lead LSU to its baseball program. Accordingly, LSU also set an NCAA total first two NCAA titles in 1991 and Bertman - now LSU's athletics direc- HIST attendance record in 2003, drawing 1993. During Laval's 10 years as assis- tor - rewarded Laval with the oppor- 291,676 patrons to Alex Box Stadium. tant coach, LSU posted a 483-182-1 tunity to perpetuate the Tigers' out- The Tigers’ shortstop, Aaron Hill, record, won five SEC titles, appeared standing heritage. was named 2003 SEC Player of the in six College World Series and cap- Laval was known at LSU as one RECORDS "Smoke certainly deserves this opportunity. He has done every- thing necessary to earn the position of head coach at LSU. He was with me at the beginning, when nobody believed baseball could be successful at LSU, or in the SEC. The only thing on the locker room LSU walls when we got here was food. That obviously has changed, and Smoke played a large role in making it happen." -- Former LSU head coach and current athletics director Skip Bertman MEDIA 80 2004 LSU BASEBALL 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 Paul Byrd (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), Rick Greene (Cincinnati, followed the '86 CWS appearance Minnesota), Todd Walker (Minnesota, CO with Omaha berths in 1987, 1989 and Colorado, Cincinnati, Boston) and A CHES Smoke Laval 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 Skip Bertman’s Committee members, renovations to MEDIA (center) top assistant coach from 1984-93. the locker room, a players' lounge, a OFFICIAL YEARBOOK 81 Smoke Laval File new sound system and a new INTRO "Smoke did the best scoreboard. coaching job in the Laval began his coaching career in 1977 as an assistant (LSU athletics) building at Jacksonville University last year, and we have before moving to Wolfson High School in Jacksonville as 20 sports. In my best a baseball and football coach. THIS IS LSU He served as a graduate assis- time, I couldn't have tant at LSU in 1979 under done the job he did. He former Tiger head coach Jack Lamabe before working two held the team together years as an assistant at Gulf Coast Community College in after a slow start. He PREVIEW Panama City, Fla. made all the right Laval served as an assistant coach at Florida for two seasons (1982-83) before return- ing to LSU to work under Bertman. moves . the man Laval holds a bachelor's degree (1977) from Jacksonville in physical education and a master's degree (1979) from LSU in administration. The McDonald, Pa., native played knows baseball." two seasons at Gulf Coast Community College, where he lettered as a catcher. He com- pleted his playing career at Jacksonville, where he led the ninth-ranked Dolphins in hit- TIGERS - LSU Athletics Director ting at the 1976 NCAA South Regional. Skip Bertman Laval and his wife, Pam, are the parents of two children, Brandon and Jamie. CHES PERSONAL DATA A Full Name: . .Raymond Peter Laval CO "I am extremely pleased Birthdate: . .December 20, 1955, in McDonald, Pa. Wife: . .Former Pam Lewis of Reserve, La. that Coach Laval has Children: . .Jamie and Brandon returned to LSU. This EDUCATION 1973 . .High School Diploma . .South Fayette HS (McDonald, Pa.) appointment provides 1977 . .Bachelor's in Physical Education . .Jacksonville University 1979 . .Master's in Administration . .LSU REVIEW continuity and leadership PLAYING EXPERIENCE 1970-73 . .Catcher . .South Fayette High School for the best collegiate 1974-75 . .Catcher . .Gulf Coast Community College 1976-77 . .Catcher . .Jacksonville University baseball program in the Y COACHING EXPERIENCE OR nation and allows for a 1977 . .Assistant Coach . .Jacksonville University 1978 . .Assistant Coach . .Wolfson High School (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1979 . .Graduate Assistant Coach . .LSU HIST smooth transition. Coach 1980-81 . .Assistant Coach . .Gulf Coast Community College Laval's record of success, 1982-83 . .Assistant Coach . .University of Florida 1984-93 . .Assistant Coach . .LSU his approach to the game, 1994-2000 . .Head Coach . .University of Louisiana-Monroe 2001 . .Administrative Assistant . .LSU and his concern for his 2002- . .Head Coach . .LSU HEAD COACHING RECORD student-athletes make him YEAR W-L SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS RECORDS 1994 20-33 UL-Monroe Defeated Three NCAA Tournament Teams an excellent fit with LSU." 1995 37-20 UL-Monroe SLC Tournament Champions; NCAA Regional Participants 1996 41-19 UL-Monroe School-Record 41 Wins; SLC Louisiana Division Champions - LSU Chancellor Mark Emmert 1997 33-21 UL-Monroe Became Fourth Coach in ULM History To Record 100 Wins 1998 33-22 UL-Monroe Led SLC In Hitting For Third Straight Season 1999 36-22 UL-Monroe SLC Champions; NCAA Regional Participants 2000 41-22 UL-Monroe SLC Champions; NCAA Regional Participants LSU 2002 44-22 LSU NCAA Regional Champions; NCAA Super Regional Participants 2003 45-22-1 LSU SEC Champions; College World Series Participants COACHING HONORS 1995 Louisiana Sportswriters Association Coach of the Year 1999 Southland Conference Coach of the Year 2002 Louisiana Sportswriters Association Coach of the Year 2003 SEC Coach of the Year; Louisiana Sportswriters Association Coach of the Year MEDIA 82 2004 LSU BASEBALL 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 Brad Cresse, 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.).