Northwestern State University of Louisiana Men's Baseball

Barbier became the 12 head baseball coach in Northwestern State history in June, completing a rise from academic and athletic standout to the head of his alma mater's program.    Barbier played for and coached under Mitch Gaspard at Northwestern State from 2002-2009 before spending five seasons at Alabama, returning to his alma mater for the 2015 season.   This is a great day as we announce one of the most decorated and admired players in the history of NSU baseball will assume oversight for the program, NSU Director of Athletics Greg Burke said. Bobby was born to be a coach and, in fact, is the son of a coach. He has the work ethic, interpersonal skills, baseball knowledge and, as a Demon baseball alumnus, a unique level of passion for the program, which will enable him to sustain and even enhance the teams success level.    Barbier has been a fixture within the Demons program, having spent a total of nine seasons (five as an assistant coach, four as a player) in Natchitoches.   Its unbelievable, Barbier said. It will be one of the great blessings in my life to have a chance to lead this team. I came to school here because of the legacy of coaches that have been at Northwestern State. To be part of that is just incredible. Its been a great 24 hours for our family.   Barbier follows in the realm of former NSU head coaches Jim Wells, Dave Van Horn, John Cohen and Gaspard, all of whom became head coaches in the Southeastern Conference. Van Horn (Arkansas) and Cohen (Mississippi State) still are active in the SEC. Wells (Alabama), Van Horn (Arkansas and Nebraska), Cohen (Mississippi State), former Demons pitching coach Rob Childress (Texas A&M) and former NSU graduate assistant Mike Bianco (Ole Miss) all have coached teams that reached the College World Series.   Barbier spent the past two seasons as Northwestern States pitching coach, playing a vital role in helping junior right-hander Adam Oller earn All-American honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association and from Collegiate Baseball magazine.   Barbiers 2016 Demons pitching staff posted a 3.01 team ERA, which ranks ninth in the country. In 2015, Barbiers first staff delivered a 3.55 ERA, which was the programs lowest mark since 2002 (3.54).   He has been part of a Demons staff that put together the first run of three straight years with at least 19 Southland Conference victories in the programs 28 years of Southland membership.   Barbiers attention to detail paid off in the classroom as the Demons posted a program-record 3.12 grade point average in the Spring 2016 semester.   After a standout high school career at Archbishop Shaw High School, Barbier was a four-year Northwestern State letterman playing primarily at first base. Barbiers name still dots the NSU career leaderboard, ranking second in hit by pitches (45), fourth in RBIs (130), seventh in games played (209), 10 in hits (181) and tied for 10 in doubles (33).   He was the starting first baseman on NSUs most recent NCAA regional team (2005) and helped that Demon squad go 22-5 in Southland play.   Additionally, Barbier was the third Academic All-American in program history, earning third-team honors in 2004.   Barbier began his coaching career immediately upon completion of his playing career, joining Gaspards NSU staff as a student assistant in 2007.   He became a full-fledged assistant coach in 2008 and spent the next season with the Demons before leaving for Alabama where he spent five seasons working alongside Gaspard.   At Alabama, Barbier helped the Crimson Tide reach four regional appearances and a berth in the 2010 Clemson Super Regional. Barbier gained invaluable experience in developing scouting reports, assisting in recruiting and coordinating academics.   On the field, Barbier helped the Crimson Tide set the school record for fielding percentage in 2011.   Barbier, 31, is married to the former Kody Sprout of Bossier City. The couple has one daughter, Landry. Barbiers father, Darren, is a former head football coach at Nicholls.   Bobbys approach will start with the word family, which has been a defining trait of Demon baseball, especially in recent years as evidenced by the hash tag FAMILY, which has become synonymous with the program on social media, Burke said.   He was raised by caring and supportive parents and now with his wife, Kody, and daughter, Landry, continues to epitomize the essence of that word on a daily basis. He is and will continue to be a quality role model for the young men in our program.