Marucci Sports Partners With The College Baseball Foundation/College Baseball Hall Of Fame as Presenting Sponsor of The Skip Bertman Coach Of The Year Award
OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – Marucci Sports has partnered with the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) and College Baseball Hall of Fame as the presenting sponsor of the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award. Marucci is one of the leading brands in baseball and was founded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where the award’s namesake cemented his legacy as one of the greatest college baseball coaches of all time.
“Marucci is honored to serve as the presenting sponsor of the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award,” Co-Founder and CEO of Marucci Sports Kurt Ainsworth said. “Coach Bertman’s legendary career set a standard that countless coaches aspire to—not just for his success on the field, but also for his unwavering commitment to developing his players as individuals of character and leadership. I had the distinct privilege of playing under Coach Bertman during my time at LSU, and his influence left a lasting impact on both my personal and professional life.”
First presented in 2013, the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award, presented by Marucci, annually honors the nation's top coach from any level of college baseball. The award is named after legendary Louisiana State head coach and College Baseball Hall of Famer Skip Bertman, who won five NCAA Division I Men’s College World Series titles during his 17-year tenure at LSU.
The Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award is more than a trophy—it is a recognition of those who, like Bertman himself, see baseball as something greater than just a game. It is for those who shape young athletes, who engage communities, and who push the sport forward. In honoring them, we honor Bertman’s legacy—a legacy built not just on championships, but on the idea that the right coach, at the right time, can change everything.
“It is only fitting Marucci is the presenting sponsor of the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award based on its deep rooted history with LSU,” CBF Trustee and Selection Committee Chair Lori J. Bertman said. “The company was founded in Baton Rouge just more than 20 years ago thanks to the vision of its founders, including a former LSU baseball player and athletic trainer. Today, many LSU players coached by my father are part of the Marucci team. That makes this partnership extra meaningful. In addition Marucci’s commitment to entrepreneurship and passion for innovation and changing the game embodies the spirit of the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award. We are grateful for Marucci’s partnership and generosity.”
The Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year, presented by Marucci, recipient is selected by a distinguished committee that includes former coaches, administrators and others intimately involved with college baseball. The selection committee is chaired by Lori J. Bertman, daughter
of Coach Bertman, and also includes Ezra Pate, a player at Bates College and grandson of Coach Bertman.
In addition to a trophy presented to the winner, an additional trophy will be displayed as part of the Awards Gallery at the College Baseball Hall of Fame at the Museum at Prairiefire in Overland Park, Kansas. The recipient of the award will also receive a custom Marucci Coach’s jacket featuring logos of the Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year Award and the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
“We appreciate Marucci Sports and their support as the presenting sponsor of the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award, CBF CEO and Executive Director Tom Jacobs said. “I cannot think of a better partnership than teaming Marucci, which was founded in Baton Rouge with a prestigious award named for Skip Bertman, a Baton Rouge, state of Louisiana and national legend. Marucci and Coach Bertman represent innovation, performance, and excellence.”
After leading his team to a historic season and the NAIA National Championship, LSU Shreveport (LSUS) Head Coach Brad Neffendorf was named the 2025 Skip Bertman Coach of the Year. Neffendorf led the Pilots to a perfect 59-0 season, including a 47-0 regular season and an unblemished 30-0 mark in Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) play. The Pilots swept the RRAC Tournament with a pair of double-digit victories, hosted and won the Shreveport Bracket in the NAIA Opening Round, and captured the 2025 NAIA Baseball National Championship at the Avista NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. In the process LSUS set a new record for the longest winning streak in college baseball history, regardless of division.
The CBF is the parent organization of the College Baseball Hall of Fame (CBHOF). The 2025 College Baseball Hall of Fame class, which was recently announced, will be honored at the Night of Champions on February 12, 2026, in Overland Park.
Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award, Presented by Marucci Recipients
Name, School, Classification
2025 – Brad Neffendorf, LSU Shreveport, NAIA
2024 – Jeff Willis, LSU-Eunice, NJCAA Division II
2023 – Kevin Brooks, Angelo State, NCAA Division II
2022 – Brian Hamm, Eastern Connecticut State, NCAA Division III
2021 – Jeremy Sheetinger, Georgia Gwinnett College, NAIA
2020 – Not Awarded (season suspended)
2019 – Erik Bakich, Michigan, NCAA Division I
2018 – Jeff Willis, LSU-Eunice, NJCAA Division II
2017 – Kevin O’Sullivan, Florida, NCAA Division I
2016 – Tim Scannell, Trinity University, NCAA Division III
2015 – Paul Mainieri, LSU, NCAA Division I
2014 – Tim Tadlock, Texas Tech, NCAA Division I
2013 – Mike Dickson, Gloucester County College, NJCAA Division III
About Marucci Sports
Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Marucci Sports was founded in 2004 by two former Big League players and LSU’s head athletic trainer, who began handcrafting bats from a backyard shed for some of the best players in the game. Fast forward to today, Marucci has turned into a premier brand in diamond sports across all product categories, from wood and metal bats to fielding gloves and protective gear to apparel and footwear. Marucci Sports acquired Victus Sports in 2017 and together they are the top two most used bats among professional players. Beginning in 2025, Marucci and Victus are the Official Bats of Major League Baseball, while Lizard Skins – another brand in the Marucci Sports family – is the Official Bat Grip of Major League Baseball. Marucci Sports also owns Baum Bat and The Stable. Marucci Sports is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fox Factory. For more information visit maruccisports.com.
