Amory Native Named Baseball America’s College Assistant Coach Of The Year

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – Mississippi State baseball associate head coach Butch Thompson has been named the 2014 Baseball America and American Baseball Coaches Association National Assistant Coach of the Year, both organizations announced Wednesday. Thompson is the first assistant coach in Mississippi State history to win the award and the first from the Southeastern Conference since 2011.

“I am honored to be recognized by Baseball America and the American Baseball Coaches Association because of what they have meant to our game and the standard they have set for baseball,” Thompson said. “I am also humbled because the other coaches who have received this award are at the top of their field.”

(HailState.com)

Since 2012, Thompson has guided the Bulldogs to a nation-leading 201 double plays inside the toughest conference in college baseball, while ranking third in the country in total strikeouts (1,637). In the last four seasons, MSU has given up four runs or less 169 times (65 percent of total games), winning 83 percent of the time when doing so (141-28). The preaching of mental toughness has also come in handy, as MSU is 144-2 under Thompson the last four campaigns when holding a lead after eight innings.

“Butch Thompson is not only one of the most elite coaches in the country – he is one of the best human beings I have ever known,” Mississippi State head coach John Cohen said. “His never-ending dedication to his craft, his loyalty to our program and his devotion to this university is why he is so deserving of this distinguished award.”

Since beginning his coaching career 22 seasons ago, including 13 years in the SEC, Thompson has developed 22 All-American pitchers. Thanks to those pitchers and his pitching staffs, Thompson has won nine total conference championships, coached in seven different College World Series and been part of 14 different regional tournaments, including the last four years with Mississippi State.

“I am thankful for every coach who has invested in me, every coach that has worked alongside me and every player who has worked hard and performed well to the team concept,” Thompson said.

Professionally, the Amory, Miss., native has molded 23 previously undrafted pitchers into Major League Baseball draft picks. Nine of his pitchers have made it to the big leagues, including Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kendall Graveman, who was one of three players in baseball in 2014 to make it to “The Show” after going through four different levels of the minor leagues. This past summer, Thompson had three pitchers drafted in the first 11 rounds of the MLB Draft, as well as another who signed a professional contract with the Oakland Athletics.

“College baseball can be humbling at times,” Thompson said. “This is a day where I am just truly honored by the award and thankful for everyone who has been part of this journey with me.”

Thompson will be honored at the 2015 ABCA Convention, which takes place Jan. 2-5, 2015 at the World Center Marriott in Orlando, Fla. Thompson and the Bulldogs return to action Friday for a 3:30 p.m. scrimmage at Dudy Noble Field. For more information on the MSU baseball program, follow the team on Twitter, like the squad on Facebook and join the Diamond Dawgs on Instagram.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT BUTCH THOMPSON

“To me, Butch Thompson is one of the best coaches I’ve ever been around. His knowledge of the game shows on the field and he is a superb example off the field as well. He leads his players in the right direction for their life.” – Roy Oswalt, 13-year MLB Veteran, Three-Time MLB All-Star and 2005 NLCS MVP

“His enthusiasm and passion for coaching, recruiting and most importantly pitching is exciting and contagious. I knew he had a bright future ahead of him. I am not surprised he is considered one of the best college pitching coaches in the nation.” –David Eckstein, 10-year MLB Veteran, Two-Time MLB All-Star (2005 and 2006) and 2006 World Series MVP

“It took me only fifteen minutes of talking pitching with Butch Thompson before it became apparent to me that I was not only speaking with one of the best pitching coaches in college baseball, but in the professional ranks as well. He’s that good!” – Paul Byrd, 14-year MLB Veteran and 1999 MLB All-Star

“Butch Thompson is a tremendous man of integrity and character that just so happens to be one outstanding college baseball coach.  If I had a son that had the ability to play baseball on an elite Division 1 level, finding a way to place him under the instruction and mentorship of Coach Thompson, would be of the utmost priority.” – Scott Sullivan, 10-year MLB Veteran

“Coach Thompson is like a second dad to me. For him to be a mentor to me, not only on the field but off the field, has always stood out to me. How he develops relationships with recruits and players is huge. He is somebody that means the world to me and I would do anything for him.” – Kendall Graveman, Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher

“I love Coach Thompson to death. He is like a father to me. I would do anything for him and I know he would do anything for me. People like him are why I come back (to Starkville). Coach Thompson has taught me a lot and I have to give him all the credit for how far I have gotten.” – Chris Stratton, 2012 San Francisco Giants First-Round Draft Pick

“Butch is one of the best pitching coaches in the country. He is very detailed and it shows on how competitive his pitchers are.” – John Savage, UCLA Head Coach

“I consider Butch Thompson to be a go-to guy for me when it comes to the development of pitchers. He’s a lifelong learner who continues to grow himself and the pitchers under his watch.” – Steve Smith, Baylor Head Coach

“Butch has developed into one of the premier coaches in college baseball. Much more importantly, in an era when much of the news around college athletics is bad, Butch is an incredible role model of integrity and character.  He is committed to God, to his wife Robin and to his three daughters.  As good a coach as he is, Butch is even a better person.  It has been an honor to have coached him, to have coached with him and it brings great joy, almost like the joy of a father, to watch Butch have such a huge impact on young lives today.” – Brian Shoop, UAB Head Coach

“One of the great joys during my tenure as president of Mississippi State University has been the growing success of our MSU baseball program. Coach Butch Thompson has been an integral part of the success of our program and I’m keenly aware of the confidence and trust that Coach John Cohen has in him. Mississippi State University is very proud of this richly deserved honor from Baseball America for Coach Thompson.” – Dr. Mark Keenum, Mississippi State University President

“In addition to being an outstanding student of the game, Butch Thompson is a tremendous leader of young people. He combines an unbelievable competitive fire with a true heart for those he coaches. Mississippi State is proud to have Butch as part of our family.” – Scott Stricklin, Mississippi State Director of Athletics

“Butch Thompson is not only one of the most elite coaches in the country – he is one of the best human beings I have ever known.  His never-ending dedication to his craft, his loyalty to our program and his devotion to this university is why he is so deserving of this distinguished award.” – John Cohen, Mississippi State Head Coach

Baseball America/ABCA Assistant Coach of the Year
2014 – Butch Thompson, Mississippi State
2013 – Chris Lemonis and Roger Williams, Louisville
2012 – Mike Birkbeck, Kent State
2011 – Chad Holbrook, South Carolina
2010 – Derek Johnson, Vanderbilt
2009 – Kevin McMullan, Virginia
2008 – Ron Fornasiere, Minnesota
2007 – Fritz Hamburg, Army
2006 – Mitch Thompson, Baylor
2005 – Bob Wojick, Eastern Connecticut State
2004 – Dave Serrano, Cal State Fullerton
2003 – Jim Lawler, Texas A&M
2002 – Jim Toman, South Carolina
2001 – Brian O’Connor, Notre Dame
2000 – Tim Corbin, Clemson
1999 – Dean Stotz, Stanford

Double Plays Turned Since 2012
1. Mississippi State – 201
2. Georgia Tech – 193
3. Washington State – 179
4. Arkansas – 178
Oregon State – 178

Total Strikeouts Since 2012
1. Louisville – 1,667
2. North Carolina State – 1,639
3. Mississippi State – 1,637
4. Vanderbilt – 1,618
5. North Carolina – 1,599