Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
The Bulldogs saw four players receive Academic All-District honors from College Sports Communicators, the organization announced Tuesday morning.
Michael Ballard, Colton Coates, Blake Hooks and Luke Nichols all received the recognition for LA Tech, marking the second-straight year with four student-athletes selected and the third time since 2021 that multiple Bulldogs received the honor.
As per the CSC’s release, the 2025 Academic All-District® Baseball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must have competed in 90 percent or started in at least 66 percent of the institution’s contests, or – for pitchers – pitched at least 35 innings or made 17 appearances, must be at least a sophomore in academic and athletic standing and must carry at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
Ballard completed his MBA at Louisiana Tech with a 3.5 GPA and graduated following the winter quarter. Ballard arrived to Ruston as a transfer from Eckerd College in Florida and was a mainstay for the Diamond ‘Dogs at second base for the last two seasons.
The Longwood, Florida native ended his Bulldog career as a .297 hitter and starts in all 121 games he played in a LA Tech uniform and was the only Bulldog to start in all 57 games this year. He has scored 75 runs and collected 142 hits, including 26 doubles, a triple and 12 homers, as well as a .991 fielding percentage since 2024.
Coates is in his sophomore year at Tech and currently holds a 3.6 GPA in management. The Southaven, Mississippi native is coming off his first year as an everyday starter for the ‘Dogs, making 39 of his 56 starts at third base. He finished the year leading the Bulldogs with 42 walks and was one of six players on the team with 30 RBI. Coates scored 50 runs while hitting 13 doubles and four homers.
Hooks led Conference USA with nine saves, tying for the fifth-most in a single season in program history. He ended his senior year with a perfect 3-0 record, holding a 2.78 ERA with 46 punchouts through 35 2/3 innings. The Petal, Mississippi native currently holds a 3.76 GPA in finance and intends to graduate from LA Tech next year.
This is the second consecutive year the Bulldog reliever has been named to CSC’s Academic All-District team.
Nichols boasts a 3.63 GPA in agribusiness and also plans to graduate from Tech in the coming year. The southpaw wrapped up his second season with the Bulldogs with a 5-6 record, as well as collecting his first two career saves. He made six starts in 25 total appearances this year, striking out 53 batters through 58 2/3 frames of work.
Along with Hooks, this is Nichols second-straight year receiving honors from the organization.
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