Jay Artigues' Lions Baseball Camps
Head Coach

Jay Artigues
Head Coach

Named one of the rising head coaches in the college game prior to the 2013 season, Jay Artigues has compiled a 240-164 (.594) won-loss record in his seven years in charge of the Southeastern Louisiana baseball program.

Under Artigues the Lions have established themselves as a growing force in the region having posted marquee victories over LSU, Tulane, South Alabama and Southern Mississippi. In 2010, the Lions also posted a three-game sweep at Mississippi State and in 2012 added a two-game sweep of the Bulldogs, compiling a five-game win streak against the SEC power.

Since Artigues took over the reins of the program the Lions have produced three All-Americans, three Freshman All-Americans, a Capital One Academic All-American, the NCBWA National Stopper of the Year, the Southland Conference's Player, Hitter, Relief Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, numerous All-Conference and Southland All-Academic players as well as Southeastern single-season and career record holders.

Artigues, a native of Bay St. Louis, Miss., inherited a program that had not finished above .500 since 1998; after a 23-32 finish in his first year at Southeastern the Lions have had six straight 30-plus win seasons, including a school record 40 wins in 2010.

In 2012, Southeastern racked up several national, regional and conference awards under the tutelage of Artigues. Advancing to the championship game of the Southland Conference Tournament, the Lions posted the second-highest win total (39-21) in school history and equaled their best conference finish (20-13, second overall). Leading the way were conference player and hitter of the year Brock Hebert, relief pitcher of the year Stefan Lopez and freshman of the year Andro Cutura.

Lopez was named the 2012 National Stopper of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after establishing both Southeastern and the Southland's single-season and career saves records, while he and Hebert each earned four All-America honors. Cutura, who won his final six decisions, was also named a Freshman All-American.

Hebert was drafted in the 14th-round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft and Lopez was taken by the New York Yankees in the 16th-round.  At least one Southeastern player has been selected in the MLB Draft during each of Artigues’ seven years as head coach.

Former Lion Wade Miley, a 2009 first-round pick of Arizona, represented the Diamondbacks in the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Kansas City, Mo., and was a finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year Award. He was honored by the Sporting News as their Rookie of the Year for the National League.

In 2011, the Lions garnered national attention as they took two of three games from Florida International to open the season and ended Garrett Wittels attempt to break the Division I consecutive-game hit-streak record. The next weekend Southeastern swept the South Alabama Tournament, including wins over SEC-power Alabama, Conference USA member Central Florida and the host Jaguars. Cass Hargis broke the Southeastern career hits record previously held by Ty Summerlin.

Shortstop Justin Boudreaux was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 14th round of the 2011 MLB Draft and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim drafted starting pitcher Brandon Efferson in the 37th round. Senior Josh Cryer was named a Capital One Academic All-American becoming the first Lion baseball player to ever earn the honor.

In 2010, Artigues was named the Louisiana Sportswriters Co-Coach of the Year as the Lions set another school first after being nationally ranked at the Division I level. The Lions were nationally ranked for eight straight weeks, reaching as high as No. 17.

Southeastern opened the 2010 campaign by winning its first 11 games en route to a school-best 40-19 overall record and 21-12 mark in Southland Conference play. Besides its sweep over Mississippi State, Southeastern also posted a two-game sweep of in-state rival and Sun Belt Conference Champion UL-Lafayette as well as wins over South Alabama and Tulane.

All-American Chris Franklin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 12th round of the 2010 MLB Draft and lefthander Jordan Hymel was named a Freshman All-American after posting a 7-1 record on the mound.

In 2009, Artigues guided the Lions to a 37-22 record and their best-ever finish in the Southland Conference (21-12, second overall). The Lions were led on the mound in 2009 by Franklin, who posted a 5-2 record while recording a school record 12 saves with a team best 2.60 ERA. The Lions went 12-3 down the stretch before falling in the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament. Ty Summerlin, a member of Artigues first recruiting class, broke the Southeastern career hits record.

In 2008, Artigues molded a pitching staff that was one of the most formidable in the league, leading the Southland Conference in team ERA (4.26) and strikeouts (481) while also taking the individual crowns in both categories. Southpaw Wade Miley led the Southland Conference recording 119 strikeouts and Brent Varnado claimed the SLC ERA title with a 3.33 mark. Miley became the highest-drafted player in Southeastern history when Arizona selected him in the first round of the 2009 MLB draft.

Prior to becoming the 15th head baseball coach in Southeastern’s history, Artigues spent four seasons at Pearl River Community College where he guided the school to a 168-51 record. The Wildcats won three conference championships and advanced to the JUCO World Series during his tenure. In his final season at PRCC, Artigues led the Wildcats, who began the season ranked No. 7 in the country to a school-record 46-12 mark and a No. 1 ranking in the final JUCO national regular-season poll.

In his first season at PRCC, Artigues led the Wildcats to 42 wins and a berth in the JUCO World Series in Millington, Tenn. PRCC finished the year as the South Division Conference Champions, Region XXIII Champions and Central District Champions with Artigues earning Region XXIII and Central District Coach of the Year honors.

Before returning to Pearl River In 2001, where he was a two-year letter winner and was a first team All-State and All-Region selection, Artigues spent three seasons at Bossier Parish Community College and posted a 107-57 record. In his final season at Bossier Parish, Artigues led the Cavaliers to a school-record 46 wins and a No. 8 ranking in the final NJCAA poll.

In each of his three college head coaching stops Artigues has the school record for wins in a season (46 at Bossier Parish, 46 at Pearl River and 40 at Southeastern).

Artigues began his coaching career in 1992-93 as an assistant at Spring Hill College where he assisted in coaching the hitters and infielders. He served as Dean of Students and head baseball coach at St. Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles, La., where he led the Saints to the Class 2A state quarterfinals in 1996.

Artigues moved to Hammond in 1996 and served as athletic director and head baseball coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, leading the Falcons to the 1997 state playoffs while administering the school’s athletic department.

Artigues then moved on to the college ranks accepting a job at UNO where he was a volunteer assistant coach in 1998 under head coach Tom Schwaner.

As a player, Artigues spent two seasons at PRCC where he was an All-State and All-Region selection. He then went on to play two seasons at Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss., where he was an All-Conference selection as a second baseman. Artigues graduated from Belhaven in 1992 with a B.S. in Business Administration and earned a Master’s Degree in Sport Coaching from the United States Sports Academy in 1993. He holds the highest single-season on-base percentage (.538) and sixth-highest career batting average (.375) in Belhaven history.

Artigues and his wife Rachel are the parents of two sons, Christopher “Champ” (13) and Casey (10).