Chris Prothro begins his eighth season as an assistant coach at Nicholls, and his fourth as Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. After spending a year as the Colonels hitting instructor, Prothro will reprise his role as pitching coach, a duty he held for five years, and continue third base coaching duties for the 2015 season.
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In his five seasons as the pitching coach for the Colonels, Prothro’s pitching staffs produced 12 Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week award winners, four Louisiana Sports Writers Association Pitcher of the Week award winners, two CollegeBaseball360.com Primetime Performer of the Week winners, a College Baseball News/Louisville Slugger National Pitcher of the Week, four All-Southland Conference performers including 2011 First Team recipient Seth Webster and 2014 First Team recipient Taylor Byrd, and five Major League Baseball draft picks or signees.
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In 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014 Prothro helped the Colonels pitching staff finish in the top five in the final Southland Conference E.R.A. standings, and in 2009 and 2011 the Colonels issued the fewest walks of any pitching staff in the conference.
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Prothro came to Nicholls from North Iowa Area Community College, where he spent two seasons as an assistant coach. Prothro worked primarily with catchers, outfielders, and as the hitting instructor, while also assisting with NIACC’s recruiting efforts. During his two-year stint in Iowa Prothro coached three NJCAA All-Americans, back to back Regional Players of the Year, 16 All-Region performers, and 18 players that went on to play at four-year institutions, including 9 that signed on with Division I programs.
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Prothro spent the summers of 2006 and 2007 serving as bench coach for the Brainerd Blue Thunder and the Mankato Moondogs of the prestigious Northwoods Summer Collegiate Wood Bat League. In his two-year stint in summer baseball, Prothro coached six Northwoods League All-Stars and 13 players that were drafted or signed professionally.
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Prothro began his collegiate playing career at conference foe Northwestern State, where he played one year and contributed to the Demons Southland Conference championship club. He spent the next year at Crowder College, where he graduated with an associate’s degree and played for former Colonels head coach Chip Durham. He finished his collegiate career as a two-year starter behind the plate for Arkansas State University, and also spent time there as a student assistant coach prior to graduating in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in history.
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Prothro was born in Shreveport, LA. He and his wife Candace currently reside in Thibodaux.
