Baseball program head Matt LaCour was named 2013 National Coach of the Year by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association. LaCour, who was selected to coach the U15 USA Baseball Team that won a gold medal at the Baseball Classic last summer, coached the varsity baseball team to its first ever CIF title and national championship in 2013.

He received the award at the NHSBCA Convention in Arizona the weekend of Dec. 8. Since he was there to collect his Regional Coach of the Year award, it came as a surprise to him when he was named National Coach of the Year as well.

“Considering it comes from my peers in the same business, it is a great honor to be recognized for the things our program has accomplished,” LaCour said. “This is an award for our entire coaching staff, seventh grade through varsity, and all of our players. Individual accolades are always a result of being a part of teams that do great things.”

LaCour earned Coach of the Year honors from the Los Angeles Times and the CIF Southern Section as well last June.

Since LaCour’s arrival as head coach in 2006, the baseball team has been a perennial contender, ultimately culminating in its first-ever CIF Championship, and has produced three Wolverines who have been drafted by Major League Baseball organizations.

Next year, LaCour hopes for his team to develop the mental and physical toughness it takes to compete at the highest levels of the game and come to the field each day with a mindset of becoming a better player and teammate.

“If we can do these things, the results on the field will take care of themselves,” LaCour said.