In what can only be described as a masterclass in leadership and roster management, Jay Johnson, head coach of the LSU Tigers, has been officially named the 2025 NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year by both D1Baseball.com and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) . The dual honor reflects a season of exceptional achievement—and strategic brilliance.
A Historic Run to the Title
Johnson guided LSU to its second College World Series (CWS) championship in just three seasons, securing the program’s eighth national title . Under his leadership in 2025, the Tigers tallied an impressive 53–15 overall record and ended the year on a dominant eight-game win streak, capped by a series sweep of Coastal Carolina in the championship round .
This feat made Johnson the fastest coach in LSU history to win multiple CWS titles at a single school, surpassing the previous record set by Miami’s Jim Morris—who took eight seasons to achieve two championships .
Masterful Roster Construction
One of Johnson’s greatest strengths lies in his ability to blend homegrown talent with strategically selected transfer‑portal additions. D1Baseball’s Aaron Fitt praised his management of this dynamic roster construction: Johnson “has solidified his place at the very pinnacle of his profession” by balancing traditional recruiting with transfer‑portal savvy .
LSU’s homegrown core—anchored by All‑Americans Jared Jones, Steven Milam, Kade Anderson, Derek Curiel, Ethan Frey, Chase Shores, Jake Brown, and Casan Evans—was brilliantly bolstered by impactful portal additions, including Anthony Eyanson, Zac Cowan, Daniel Dickinson, Luis Hernandez, Chris Stanfield, and Michael Braswell .
Dominant Pitching and Offensive Performance
LSU’s pitching staff was a national powerhouse—ranking No. 4 in strikeouts per nine innings (11.7), No. 6 in hits allowed per nine innings (7.27), No. 7 in team ERA (3.73), and No. 12 in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.83) . All‑Americans Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson stood out: Anderson led the nation with 180 strikeouts, while Eyanson was third with 152 .
On offense, the Tigers were equally potent—ranking sixth in runs scored (536), seventh in walks (360), eighth in hits (671), and ninth in doubles (136) . Jared Jones launched 22 home runs (eighth in the nation) and amassed 64 career homers, third-most in LSU history; Derek Curiel finished with a .345 average and earned D1Baseball National Freshman of the Year honors .
Legacy and Career Excellence
Johnson’s four-year tenure at LSU has yielded remarkable results: a 190–77 record (.712) and a 26–7 NCAA Tournament record with the Tigers (.788) . Across his 13-year collegiate head coaching career, he boasts a 507–249 record and a 43–16 NCAA Tournament mark .
He’s also distinguished himself in the CWS: a cumulative 16–7 record, including an 11–2 mark in NCAA finals appearances with LSU (2023, 2025) .
Johnson has developed 32 Major League players during his career. Notable among them are Paul Skenes—the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year and All-Star starting pitcher—and Golden Spikes Award winner Dylan Crews, who debuted with the Washington Nationals in 2024 .
A Resilient Final Out: Chase Shores
No reflection on this championship run would be complete without highlighting Chase Shores—a redshirt sophomore reliever and one of Johnson’s early key recruits. After an 18-month recovery from Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2024 season, Shores delivered a memorable performance in the 2025 CWS finals, closing out the game with dominant reliever outings—including a 101 mph pitch—and sealing the title for LSU . Johnson celebrated Shores’ perseverance, calling him “the talent is uncoachable,” and praised his journey from starter to pivotal reliever .
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In Summary
Jay Johnson’s recognition as the 2025 D1 Baseball National Coach of the Year is a fitting capstone to a season marked by masterful team-building, elite performance in all facets of the game, and a fierce championship run. His leadership not only delivered gold but redefined the next golden era of LSU baseball.