Josh Holt will enter his first season as the Head Coach at Lake-Sumter State College and seventh overall at the school.
Holt came to Lake-Sumter State College from Florida Tech University where he served as an assistant baseball coach in the spring 2006. He graduated from Leesburg High School in 2001 and then furthered his baseball career at Flagler College. While at Flagler College, he was a four-year starter at first base. In 2010, Holt was named to the Flagler College Baseball’s All-Decade Team (2000-2009) for his athletic achievements during his career. He graduated from Flagler College in December 2005 with a Secondary Education-Social Science degree. Holt went on to earn his Master’s degree from the University of Phoenix in March 2007.
Holt also has head coaching experience by leading the Leesburg Lightning of the Florida Collegiate Summer League to the championship in its inaugural season in the summer of 2007 with a record of 23-12. In the summer 2006, Holt also won the FCSL Championship as an assistant coach with the Winter Park Diamond Dogs. During his two years as an assistant coach and head coach in the FCSL, Holt coached eight players that went on to play professional baseball.
The previous five seasons at LSSC, Holt directed the pitching staff and assisted in the recruitment of players. In his time as a collegiate coach, Holt has coached twenty All-Conference performers and two All-Americans. In the last five years, Holt saw twenty-three former LSSC baseball pitchers move on to the four year level, including seven at the NCAA Division One Level. Since 2008, he has seen over forty former LSSC players move on to the four year level.
PITCHING STAFFS UNDER HOLT (Team earned run averages)
2008 – 6.92
2009 – 5.25
2010 – 5.18
2011 – 4.98
2012 – 3.78 (school record)
In 2011, the pitching staff finished with a 4.98 team earned run average which is the fifth best in school history. Two pitchers, Nic Kovacs and Ethan Bader earned All Mid-Florida Conference recognition. Kovacs was also selected to the FCSAA All-State Second Team and finished tied for second place in school history for wins in a single season with eight.
In 2012, the pitching staff had its best year under Holt. The LakeHawks finished with the lowest team earned run average in school history with a 3.78. Five pitchers finished with earned run averages under four for the season. Eight pitchers from the 2012 pitching staff moved on to the four year level which is the most ever in a single season.
He resides in Leesburg with his wife Lindsay and daughter Ella.
Assistant Baseball Coach-Jerod Mathis
Jerod Mathis is entering his first season as an Assistant Coach at Lake-Sumter State College in the fall of 2012. Mathis is joining the Lakers from Tenoroc High School in Lakeland, where he was the assistant baseball coach for the last three years. He graduated from Lakeland High School in 2004, then continued his baseball career at Polk State College from 2005-2006 and finished his playing career at Webber International University. He was a four year starter in the outfield during his college career.
In his senior season at Webber International University, Mathis earned All-Conference First Team. He broke school records of hits in a season with 84 and doubles in a season with 18, and fell just one hit short of the batting average record as he hit .422 for the year. He also earned Honorable Mention for the NAIA Southeastern Gold Glove.
Although this is Mathis’ first season as a college coach, he does have college coaching experience as he was an assistant coach for the Leesburg Lightning of the Florida Collegiate Summer League in the summer of 2012. The Lightning finished the regular season in first place and played for the league championship at Tropicana Field.
In his time as a high school coach, Mathis has coached four Polk County All-Star selections. He has also assisted in developing two players that went on to further their baseball career at the college level.
Mathis resides in Leesburg with his wife Sarah and daughter Addison.