New head baseball coach Seth Thibodeaux is nearly two weeks into his first season as head coach, and he loves the fact that he has players who love to win and compete.

Thibodeaux, who replaces former head coach Chip Durham, was the associate head coach under Durham and is entering his fourth season with the Colonels. In his three seasons as assistant coach, Thibodeaux served as recruiting coordinator, hitting coach and infield coach. He feels close to his players because he’s a big reason as to why they’re there.

“I like my team a lot, and I always have,” Thibodeaux said. “I was very fortunate to be able to recruit each and every one of these kids, so I have a very soft place in my heart for them.”

The Colonels stumbled out of the gate when they went 1-2 in the 2011 Louisiana Tech Classic with losses against Louisiana Tech and Southern Illinois. The Colonels then lost to UL-Lafayette in Lafayette 5-4 last Tuesday. Thibodeaux wasn’t happy with the way the Colonels started the season but knows it’s a building process.

“We didn’t have the record that we wanted after week one, but that’s not the goal,” Thibodeaux said. “Our goal wasn’t to be a champion in week one, our goal was to be a champion in May.”

The Colonels rebounded well at home when they defeated UL-Lafayette off of a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth by junior infielder Mace Krol. The Colonels gained the victory in front of a packed crowd as it was the home opener.

“It was an unbelievable crowd,” Thibodeaux said. “A lot of students were here, and we were able to play at a high level tonight. We beat a great club.”

Like most coaches, Thibodeaux was still critical of the performance but will gladly take the win.

“We’re nowhere near where we are going to be,” Thibodeaux said. “We didn’t win a championship tonight. We just took a step in the direction of where we want to go, and our players know that.”

Although wins and losses are important to Thibodeaux, he wants his team to win in everything they do, including the classroom. When asked about his goals as being head coach, Thibodeaux responded “come here (to Nicholls), and you’re going to get a degree.”

Thibodeaux stressed the importance of not only succeeding on the field but succeeding in life and becoming a better man.

“We want to win the Southland Conference championship, we want to be the best team in the state and we want to be great young men,” Thibodeaux said. “We want to learn to serve, give back to the community and be a champion in everything we do.”

The Colonels will host a three game series with UL-Monroe this weekend starting Friday at 6 p.m.

Head baseball coach Seth Thibodeaux talks to the officals and the head coach of the Saint Peter Peacocks about the problem areas of Ray E. Didier Field.