Jay Johnson named 2025 National Coach of the Year after leading LSU to another CWS title

LSU head baseball coach Jay Johnson has once again earned national recognition, as he was named the 2025 NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association on Wednesday. The honor comes on the heels of Johnson leading the Tigers to their second College World Series title in three years, further cementing his place in program history.

Johnson has now led LSU to the top of college baseball in both 2023 and 2025, bringing the program’s national title total to eight. In just four seasons in Baton Rouge, he has not only restored LSU’s championship standard but elevated it. He becomes the fastest coach to win multiple CWS titles at a single school, surpassing Miami’s Jim Morris, who accomplished the feat over eight seasons.

The 2025 Tigers capped off a dominant 53-15 season with an eight-game winning streak, ending with a sweep of Coastal Carolina in the College World Series Finals. LSU excelled on both sides of the ball, finishing among the nation’s best in nearly every statistical category.

The pitching staff, anchored by All-Americans Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, was among the most feared in the country. LSU ranked No. 4 nationally 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). Anderson led the nation with 180 strikeouts, while Eyanson wasn’t far behind with 152.

Offensively, the Tigers were just as explosive. All-Americans Jared Jones and Derek Curiel helped LSU finish sixth nationally in runs scored (536), seventh in walks (360), eighth in hits (671), and ninth in doubles (136). Jones smashed 22 home runs on the year, bringing his career total to 64 — the third-highest mark in LSU history.

Johnson’s record speaks for itself. In 13 seasons as a head coach, he holds a 507-249 (.671) overall mark, including a 190-77 (.712) record at LSU. In NCAA Tournament play, Johnson is 43-16 (.729) overall, with an eye-popping 26-7 (.788) record at LSU. In the College World Series, he’s 11-2 with the Tigers.

Beyond the wins, Johnson has also developed big-league talent. He coached former LSU right-hander Paul Skenes, who was named the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year and started the All-Star Game, as well as former Golden Spikes winner Dylan Crews, who debuted with the Washington Nationals in 2024.

Johnson was also named National Coach of the Year in 2023 by multiple publications following LSU’s title win that year. With two championships in three seasons, it’s clear the Tigers are once again college baseball’s gold standard — and Johnson is leading the charge.