NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State announced Tuesday it has named former Demon Academic All-American and current NSU associate head coach Bobby Barbier the 12th head baseball coach in school history.
Barbier will be introduced Monday afternoon in a news conference inside the Stroud Room at the Northwestern State field house.
Barbier played for and coached under Mitch Gaspard at Northwestern State from 2002-2009 before spending five seasons at Alabama, returning to his alma mater for the 2015 season.
“This is a great day as we announce one of the most decorated and admired players in the history of NSU baseball will assume oversight for the program,” NSU Director of Athletics Greg Burke said. “Bobby was born to be a coach and, in fact, is the son of a coach. He has the work ethic, interpersonal skills, baseball knowledge and, as a Demon baseball alumnus, a unique level of passion for the program, which will enable him to sustain and even enhance the team’s success level.”
Barbier takes over for Lane Burroughs, who resigned to accept the head coaching job at Louisiana Tech. Barbier’s hiring is pending approval by the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors.
Barbier has been a fixture within the Demons program, having spent a total of nine seasons (five as an assistant coach, four as a player) in Natchitoches.
“It’s unbelievable,” Barbier said. “It will be one of the great blessings in my life to have a chance to lead this team. I came to school here because of the legacy of coaches that have been at Northwestern State. To be part of that is just incredible. It’s been a great 24 hours for our family.”
Barbier follows in the realm of former NSU head coaches Jim Wells, Dave Van Horn, John Cohen and Gaspard, all of whom became head coaches in the Southeastern Conference. Van Horn (Arkansas) and Cohen (Mississippi State) still are active in the SEC. Wells (Alabama), Van Horn (Arkansas and Nebraska), Cohen (Mississippi State), former Demons pitching coach Rob Childress (Texas A&M) and former NSU graduate assistant Mike Bianco (Ole Miss) all have coached teams that reached the College World Series.
Barbier spent the past two seasons as Northwestern State’s pitching coach, playing a vital role in helping junior right-hander Adam Oller earn All-American honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association and from Collegiate Baseball magazine.
Barbier’s 2016 Demons pitching staff posted a 3.01 team ERA, which ranks ninth in the country. In 2015, Barbier’s first staff delivered a 3.55 ERA, which was the program’s lowest mark since 2002 (3.54).
He has been part of a Demons staff that put together the first run of three straight years with at least 19 Southland Conference victories in the program’s 28 years of Southland membership.
Barbier’s attention to detail paid off in the classroom as the Demons posted a program-record 3.12 grade point average in the Spring 2016 semester.
After a standout high school career at Archbishop Shaw High School, Barbier was a four-year Northwestern State letterman playing primarily at first base. Barbier’s name still dots the NSU career leaderboard, ranking second in hit by pitches (45), fourth in RBIs (130), seventh in games played (209), 10th in hits (181) and tied for 10th in doubles (33).
He was the starting first baseman on NSU’s most recent NCAA regional team (2005) and helped that Demon squad go 22-5 in Southland play.
Additionally, Barbier was the third Academic All-American in program history, earning third-team honors in 2004.
Barbier began his coaching career immediately upon completion of his playing career, joining Gaspard’s NSU staff as a student assistant in 2007.
He became a full-fledged assistant coach in 2008 and spent the next season with the Demons before leaving for Alabama where he spent five seasons working alongside Gaspard.
At Alabama, Barbier helped the Crimson Tide reach four regional appearances and a berth in the 2010 Clemson Super Regional. Barbier gained invaluable experience in developing scouting reports, assisting in recruiting and coordinating academics.
On the field, Barbier helped the Crimson Tide set the school record for fielding percentage in 2011.
Barbier, 31, is married to the former Kody Sprout of Bossier City. The couple has one daughter, Landry. Barbier’s father, Darren, is a former head football coach at Nicholls.
“Bobby’s approach will start with the word ‘family,’ which has been a defining trait of Demon baseball, especially in recent years as evidenced by the hash tag ‘FAMILY,’ which has become synonymous with the program on social media,” Burke said.
“He was raised by caring and supportive parents and now with his wife, Kody, and daughter, Landry, continues to epitomize the essence of that word on a daily basis. He is and will continue to be a quality role model for the young men in our program.”
Barbier file
Wife: Kody
Daughter: Landry
High School: Archbishop Shaw
College: Northwestern State, 2006
Coaching Experience:
2016 Northwestern State Assistant Coach
2015 Northwestern State Assistant Coach
2014 Alabama Assistant Coach
2013 Alabama Assistant Coach
2012 Alabama Assistant Coach
2011 Alabama Assistant Coach
2010 Alabama Assistant Coach
2009 Northwestern State Assistant Coach
2008 Northwestern State Assistant Coach
2007 Northwestern State Student Assistant Coach
