Jeff Willis
Athletic Director/Head Baseball
Phone: 337-550-1417
Email:
jwillis@lsue.edu
jwillis@lsue.edu
337-550-1417
Jeff Willis is beginning his eighth season as head coach of the Bengal baseball team and sixth year as Athletic Director. The Bengal coach holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock and a master’s degree in Health and Kinesiology from Texas A&M University at Kingsville. In seven seasons at LSU Eunice he has compiled a 326-92 record and has never finished ranked lower than 7th in the country. During his tenure as the Bengal coach he has received five ABCA Diamond Regional Coach of the Year Awards, five NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year Awards, four NJCAA Central District Coach of the Year Awards, a Louisville Slugger Coach of the Year Award, and two NJCAA National Coach of the Year Awards. Willis has also coached the NJCAA All-Star Team in the summer competing against the Chinese Taipai National Team. Willis also serves as the Assistant Regional Director for the NJCAA Region XXIII.
The 2009 season saw the Bengal team finish the season with a 51-12 record and a 3rd place finish at the World Series. The 2009 team set 8 of the 16 team records including regular season wins (45), RBI’s (586), and stolen bases (197). The 2008 season saw the Bengal team capture a second National Championship with a 52-12 record. The 2007 season saw the Bengal team finish 44-14 and a regional tournament appearance after holding the #1 National Ranking every week except for one week when they fell to #2. The 2006 season saw the Bengal team capture the National Championship en route to a 52-11 record. The 2004 team posted a 51-13 record and a 3rd place finish at the JUCO World Series. In seven years, Willis has led the Bengals to 5 Regional Championships, 4 District Championships, and 4 World Series. Also, every team record has been broken under the leadership of Willis.
During the past 7 years Coach Willis has seen 69 of his players move on to four year universities. Willis has had the opportunity in the last six years to coach and/or sign 22 players who have been drafted by Major League Baseball. During the same period he has coached 32 all-region players, and 8 All-Americans.
Willis played two years as an infielder for the Division I, UALR Trojans after playing junior college baseball. During his two years at UALR, the Trojans qualified for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament both years and saw the team set a school record for victories in a season.
“I set high standards for student athletes on and off the field and expect them to do their best in their academics and in their citizenship as members of the campus and community. I expect our student athletes to have an attitude that they should win in everything that they do,” said Willis.
Willis attended Dumas High School in Dumas, TX, where he was a Mizuno High School All-American baseball player, All-State Wrestler, and All-District Football player. The Bengal coach, wife, Lindsey, and daughter Ali reside in Eunice.
About Jeff Willis
Full Name: John Jeffrey Willis
Education
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, B.S. Health Sciences
Texas A&M University at Kingsville, M.S. Health & Kinesiology
Family
Wife: The former Lindsey Coker
Daughter: Alison Paige
Coaching Experience
2000-2002 Assistant Coach, Texas A&M University at Kingsville
2002-present Head Coach, Louisiana State University Eunice
Athletic Director Experience
2004-present Louisiana State University Eunice
Coaching Record
Year W L Pct.
2003 39 14 .735 ranked #3 in nation
2004 51 13 .797 ranked #3 in nation
2005 37 16 .698 ranked #7 in nation
2006 52 11 .825 ranked #1 in nation
2007 44 14 .759 ranked #1 in nation
2008 52 12 .813 ranked #1 in nation
2009 51 12 .809 ranked #1 in nation
Totals 326 92 .780
Coaching Honors
2003 ABCA Diamond Regional Coach of the Year
2003 NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year
2004 ABCA Diamond Regional Coach of the Year
2004 NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year
2004 NJCAA Central District Coach of the Year
2004 Louisville Slugger Coach of the Year, Central District
2006 ABCA Diamond Regional Coach of the Year
2006 NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year
2006 NJCAA Southeast District Coach of the Year
2006 NJCAA National Coach of the Year
2007 NJCAA All-Star Assistant Coach
2008 ABCA Diamond Regional Coach of the Year
2008 NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year
2008 NJCAA Southeast District Coach of the Year
2008 NJCAA National Coach of the Year
2008 NJCAA All-Star Assistant Coach
2009 ABCA Diamond Regional Coach of the Year
2009 NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year
2009 NJCAA Southeast District Coach of the Year
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