Built to Last: LA Tech Baseball's Elite Culture Shines in Transfer Portal Era

by:Ben Carlisle•12 hours ago

Louisiana Tech has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success on the baseball diamond since the inception of the transfer portal.

The Diamond Dogs have made three NCAA Regional appearances in the last five years, including hosting a regional for the first time in program history in 2021.

The team success on the field has resulted in an enormous amount of individual success.

Six All-Americans. One Freshman All-American. One Conference USA Player of the Year. One Conference USA Freshman of the Year. The Diamond Dogs have seen 19 different players make first or second team all-conference over the last five seasons. Eight MLB Draft picks.

Needless to say, the program doesn’t lack talent.

Building a Culture

Culture is a hot topic in college athletics. How is it built? We asked Lane Burroughs. I mean, after all, his program hasn’t lost one single major contributor in five years.

On how they’ve built such a strong culture, Burroughs told BleedTechBlue.com, “I think it speaks to a lot of factors. It’s also a collaborative effort. Obviously the culture of the program has to be rock solid, but Ruston and the university play a huge role. The administration from Dr. Henderson to Ryan Ivey are committed to winning and the town, fans and support we receive is also an integral part to the student athlete experience. I’m not naive and think every player loves me every day. I do make out the lineup after all and every competitor wants to play, but one thing we promise to every player is that we will treat them just as we would our own children and I think to a man, our guys will tell you we do that. I always told myself that if I ever become a head coach, that I want our players and staff to pull up to the facility and want to get in there. Not dread coming in to work. We try and create a family atmosphere and our guys know what they will get everyday. I also believe that our guys know that we are gonna develop them as baseball players and also Men. We all aren’t gonna be big leaguers, but we will all be husbands and fathers one day.”

Retention Rate Unrivaled

Year	Major Contributors	Retained	Retention Rate
2021	11	11	100%
2022	9	9	100%
2023	12	11*	92%
2024	8	8	100%
2025	14	14	100%
Total	54	53	98%

For this exercise, Major Contributors were defined as 2 PA/G or 0.5 IP/G. Wade Elliott (2022) and Grant Hubka (2025) are not included in the data as both players chose not to use their last year of eligibility.

Retaining your top players is important for any program, and Louisiana Tech takes pride in it with Burroughs saying, “This is something that we are extremely proud of and we talk about in recruiting. Retention this day and age is a challenge. Players obviously have the freedom to transfer and be eligible immediately. We have a great University. Ruston is an awesome college town, the support is unmatched and there is expectation of winning. Young men today want structure, development, a chance to win and an opportunity to get to the next level and I think we provide all of that at Louisiana Tech.”

*Alec Sparks is the lone player to not return the following season with an academic issue.

Yes, you’re understanding correctly. In the transfer portal era, the Diamond Dogs have not had one major contributor depart the program for the transfer portal. Not one.

Former Diamond Dogs on what it’s like to play for Coach Burroughs and the strong culture in Ruston

“Playing for Coach Burroughs at Louisiana Tech was one of the greatest honors of my life. He’s not just a great coach—he’s a great man. He’s loyal to his players, knows exactly when to push you, and he never lets you forget that he cares about you beyond the game. The culture he’s built is all about toughness, accountability, and brotherhood. That’s why you don’t see guys leaving—because once you’re in, you’re family. And when you’re part of that, there’s no other jersey you want to wear. Coach Burroughs leads with integrity, and every guy who’s played for him would run through a wall for him. I’m proud to have been a part of that.” – OF Steele Netterville (2018 – 2022)

“Coach Burroughs cares about his players outside of baseball. He not only creates better baseball players but he molds his players into better men, husbands, and fathers. He is the ultimate players coach. There is nothing he wouldn’t do for one of his players on or off the field. He connects with each player on personal levels and not just during the game of baseball. I am forever grateful to have had him as my college coach at LA Tech. He will always be my favorite coach ALL-TIME.” – INF Taylor Young (2018 – 2022)

“For me, I was committed to Tech under Goff and he left like 2 weeks after I committed. They hired Burroughs and we got to sit down with him and I knew immediately something was different with him. I was hoping that he would honor my offer from the previous staff and he did. I sucked my first year and he stuck with me. He makes you believe in yourself and brings the best in you out. He is a true leader of men with a heavy emphasis on faith and family. In the first team meeting of the year he lets you know loud and clear that if your personal and spiritual life aren’t in order then you’re gonna have a hard time. Over the years of me playing there our relationship molded from a player-coach relationship to one that’s deeper than that. I know if I find myself in trouble or needing someone to stay behind me no matter what or no matter how long it has been, Lane Burroughs is gonna answer that call every single time and I would do the same for him. Playing summer ball you get exposed to a lot of different players from around the country and one thing stuck with me from talking with them. A lot of guys did not like their coach, and that amazed me. There was never a day I wasn’t pumped and excited to head to the ball park and get to go to work day in and day out for LB. The culture he has created is unmatched and it is something I miss every single day since my career ended. He isn’t a guy that’s just putting on a show, he is his genuine self at every point of the day, and he surrounds himself with players that are like him and are going to give him that back. He demands the best from you and expects you to demand the best from him. There was no other coach or program I wanted to play for in the country. Louisiana Tech’s culture and the family of Ruston is just that, a family and it was an honor to be apart of.” – LHP Jonathan Fincher (2018 – 2023)

“Coach Burroughs has full belief in every single player in that locker room that they can become the best version of themselves on and off the field. He is a huge believer of developing good men along with players and that starts from the second you step on campus to the last game you play for him. He’s the guy I want in my foxhole. He is the ultimate and the lead Junkyard Dawg. He protects his own and fights for them in every situation.” OF Parker Bates (2017-2021)

“It’s because Coach Burroughs is a cultivator of strong men. Someone who leads from the front, but always has your back. He’s not for everyone, but anyone who’s been in his program knows that if you give him the respect and the output he requires, he’ll always be in your corner.” OF Philip Matulia (2019-2023)

”For me it all started with my Freshman year. Having the leaders like TY, Fincher, Crigger, Steele, Gibson and so many others that embodied what it meant to be a Louisiana Tech Bulldog. Understanding that this place isn’t a stepping stone for “better” opportunities but instead it’s a home. It’s a family. There’s no where I would have rather been than Louisiana Tech. Coach Burroughs along with all the other coaches treated me as if I was their son. Not to mention the amazing community surrounding this program. But to wrap it all up I think that the culture created under Coach Burroughs all started with the group that stayed after the Tornado. It showed to others what this program is all about and legacy that was formed by those men. – LHP Ryan Harland (2022-2025)