By JOHN MARCASE

Mike Byrnes wasn’t looking for a job. He had a pretty good one as director of Sports Medicine at Mid-State Orthopedics in Alexandria. 

But Louisiana College needed a baseball coach. More importantly, its baseball program needed direction. The years following Billy Allgood’s retirement were difficult, and then-LC athletics director Shelia Johnson turned to Byrnes, an LC alum and former player under Allgood.

“I told Shelia Johnson I’d give her two years to help straighten out the program,” said Byrnes. “God works in strange ways.”

As is always the case, God’s plans are better than our plans. 

Saturday, Byrnes won his 500th game as head baseball coach at Louisiana College, now known as Louisiana Christian University, with a 19-1 win over Texas College as the Wildcats improved to 20-5 overall and 17-3 in Red River Athletic Conference play. 

His 500 collegiate baseball victories are the most among active coaches in Louisiana.

In May, he will start his 25th year at the school.

“It’s been a privilege working with so many great young men,” said Byrnes. “That’s been a highlight – all the young men who have played here. And all my assistant coaches have been ex-players.”

One of his former assistants was his son, Matt Joe Byrnes, whom he coached from 2002-2006. Matt Joe was a three-time all-conference play who left LC with three school records — most stolen bases in a season and career and most times hit by a pitch. He is a member of the LCU sports hall of fame and is now director of secondary education for Rapides Parish Schools.  

“That has been one of the highlights in my coaching career, getting to coach him,” said Byrnes. 

Byrnes was a successful high school coach, winning state championships in baseball (2) and powerlifting at Tioga, and district titles as the Indians’ football coach before he left coaching for what he thought was for good. 

During his 24 years with the Wildcats, he has led efforts to revamp Billy Allgood Field into one of the better facilities in NAIA. He has seen the Wildcats go from the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association to NCAA Division III status and finally back to the NAIA.

The move to the NAIA has allowed Byrnes to build an even stronger program by offering athletic scholarships. The Wildcats have averaged 31 wins over the past four complete seasons, including 36 a season ago.

“You win championships with pitching,” said Byrnes. “Now, we are able to recruit a wider array of pitchers than ever before. This is as nice a group of pitchers as we’ve ever had.”

More than 40 of his former players at LCU have gone into coaching, including first-year Northwestern State baseball coach Chris Bertrand, whose Demons will host LCU March 26.

Before that, Byrnes’ next milestone awaits.

“I’m ready to go and get 501,” he said.  

The Wildcats have a pair of JV games Monday and Tuesday before returning to conference play Friday at Our Lady of the Lake. LCU is one game out of first place behind LSU Shreveport, and will host the third-ranked Pilots April 5-6.

“I’m gonna try to continue to ride this good horse as long as the good Lord is willing,” said Byrnes.