Zach Lucas Joins Houston as Volunteer Assistant
7/5/2019 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
Former standout collegiate player has been to College World Series as a player and coach
HOUSTON -- Zach Lucas has joined the University of Houston Baseball program as a volunteer assistant, Head Coach Todd Whitting announced Friday afternoon.
"I am pleased to welcome Coach Lucas to our tremendous staff of assistant coaches," Whitting said. "It is very important to me to surround our student-athletes with coaches who have been a part of winning at the highest level. Zach has participated in the College World Series as both a player at Louisville and as a member of the staff at Mississippi State, two programs and coaching staffs that I have a great deal of respect for. He will bring great experience and enthusiasm to our offensive unit this season."
His duties will include working with hitters and coaching first base and outfield.
Lucas comes to Houston from Mississippi State where he spent the 2019 season as a graduate assistant as the Bulldogs advanced to the College World Series.
"I am extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity Coach Whitting has given me," Lucas said. "I am thrilled to work with a talented group of players with one of the best staffs at an unbelievable University.
"I am excited to get to work and continue the winning tradition of this great baseball program."
This past season, MSU posted its second highest win total in program history with a 52-15 record. The Bulldogs' 20 wins in SEC play were also the second most for the ball club since 1933.
"I have had the opportunity to work with Zach as a player and as a coach," MSU Head Coach Chris Lemonis said. "He is a rising star in the coaching profession. His energy, knowledge of the game and relationships with players will help him be successful in any role. He will be a big asset to the Houston program."
The Louisville, Ky., native served as the volunteer assistant at Indiana in 2018. That season, the Hoosiers won 40 games and earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Austin Regional.
Lucas spent the 2017 season as an assistant coach at East Tennessee State, working primarily with the hitters, outfielders and baserunners, after spending 2016 as the Buccaneers' volunteer assistant.
In 2017, ETSU ranked 17th in the country with a .309 batting average while tallying 130 doubles (No. 13 in nation), 655 hits (17th), 7.2 runs per game (23rd) and had a .468 slugging percentage (26th).
In 2016, the Bucs were fifth in the nation in home runs per game (1.32), seventh in home runs (75), 21st in batting average (.307), 15th in scoring (7.5) and 25th in runs scored (430).
Individually, ETSU had four position players taken in the 2016 MLB Draft, along with two All-Americans, four All-Southern Conference selections and the TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby champion. Trey York (9th Round by the Milwaukee Brewers), Owenby (14th Round by Pittsburgh Pirates), Cook (30th Round by Pittsburgh) and Aaron Maher (38th Round by Pittsburgh) were all selected in the draft, marking the most Bucs taken in the MLB Draft since 2006. York and Owenby also earned All-American honors, while Owenby became the second player in program history to win the College Home Run Derby.
As a player, Lucas was a four-year letterwinner for Head Coach Dan McDonnell at Louisville from 2012 to 2015. Playing in 206 career games with 184 starts, he helped guide the Cardinals to two appearances in the College World Series.
"Zach was not only a phenomenal player for us at Louisville, but was a team captain and led by example everyday," McDonnell said. " He loved the game and the program, and those are two qualities that have also helped him advance in the coaching ranks as well."
Lucas was a two-time team captain (2014 and 2015) and earned Third-Team All-America honors in 2014. Winner of the Jimmy Carraro Award, given to a Louisville player who exemplifies strong character both on and off the field, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 27th Round (Pick 881) after his junior year.
Lucas finished his career with a .261 batting average recording 42 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs, 83 walks, 102 RBI and 110 runs scored with 33 stolen bases.
Lucas was a four-year letterwinner at Butler High School in Louisville. He was named the 2011 Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year after hitting .450 with 11 home runs, 36 RBI and 25 runs scored in leading BHS to the state tournament.
Lucas replaces Kyle Winkler, who joined former Houston assistant coach Ryan Shotzberger's inaugural staff at Incarnate Word.STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Baseball on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarBB, and "Like" UHCougarBB on Facebook.
JOIN DUGOUT CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Baseball program by joining the Dugout Club. To find out more information about the Dugout Club, visit UHCougarPride.com or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH.