The Award-Filled Season for Coach Neffendorf Contines

Brad Neffendorf was hired as the seventh head coach of LSU-Shreveport baseball i 2020. Before arriving at LSUS, Neffendorf had a plethora of experience around the country serving multiple roles. His most recent role was as a pitching coach for a short time at Division 1 Southern Illinois University. The last time Neffendorf was a head coach was in 2015 with the Front Royal Cardinals, a collegiate summer baseball team. 

When Neffendorf was brought along, of course the expectations were high. LSUS baseball has always been a great job to have with all the success the program has garnered. However, for Neffendorf to take LSUS to three NAIA world series in his first six seasons, including winning it all this year, it is unlikely anyone saw that coming. 

Seeing the laundry list of success LSUS baseball racked up this season, it was inevitable Neffendorf was going to win some sort of national award. Before this season, Neffendorf won five total awards spanning from 2021-2023. The most notable of which was 2022 Louisiana Sports Writers Association College Coach of the Year. Neffendorf has won seven awards this season alone, five of which being National Coach of the Year honors. 

Neffendorf was named ABCA/ATEC National Coach of the Year, NAIA Ball National Coach of the Year, Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball National Coach of the Year, College Baseball Foundation Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year, and most recently All-State Sugar Bowl Coach of the Year. 

When receiving the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year award, Neffendorf told the College Baseball Foundation he was “incredibly honored and humbled to receive an award of this magnitude, especially one associated with Skip Bertman, one of the all-time greats in collegiate baseball," "Coach Bertman embodied everything a great leader and coach should represent. This award is a testament to the commitment, hard work, and success of our players, coaching staff, and support system throughout the year. I'm extremely proud of everyone involved in our program and truly thrilled to accept this recognition on their behalf." 

One thing you should know about Neffendorf, it is never about him. A great example of this comes from the quotes you just read. Neffendorf does not see this as his award, but an award for the whole LSUS baseball program. Coach also was one of eleven recipients of the ABCA/ATEC Coach of the Year award, as stated earlier. The award is given out to one head coach from every level of baseball from Division I college baseball to High School Division III. After winning this award, Neffendorf once again credited all players, coaches, and others for his award when telling reporters this was “another program award” and a “direct reflection” of everyone that was involved in the team’s success. He felt “honored” to earn the award “on behalf of them and the recognition they continue to deserve.” 

Then the most recent award he received was the All-State Sugar Bowl Coach of the Year. He once again gave everyone else credit when speaking to reporters after winning the award, "All recognition is great, but it's recognition for the entire program," "It all comes down to all of the people involved. I have to give a great deal of praise to the players. Their commitment, their investment, their ability to quickly being able to operate each and every day as one unit, on and off the field. They became incredibly close, extremely quick. I also have a great deal of respect and appreciation and praise for our coaching staff – the work and investment that they put in made this happen." Neffendorf gave great praise to how the players handled the recognition they got with the fifty-nine-game win streak and the undefeated national championship season that brought along. There was also the 42-4 win over Texas College that garnered national recognition. 

It may not make sense to many, but the best team in the regular season does not always win a championship. It is common for the team, seen as the “favorite” or the “team to beat” to come short of winning it all. Going unbeaten is one thing, but to keep your head down and keep working like you have been all season like the Pilots did, that is on Neffendorf and his leadership, a man more than deserving of everything he accomplished in 2025.