Gerald Cassard begins his first year as director of baseball operations for the Nicholls baseball program, coming to Nicholls after five years as the head coach of the Loyola Wolfpack.
In five years at Loyola, Cassard amassed a record of 82-171, leading the Wolfpack to the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Championship in 2010.
Before his stint at Loyola, he served at the University of New Orleans as a volunteer assistant. As a pitching coach under Tom Walter, Cassard had two Sun Belt Pitchers of the Week, an All-Sun Belt pitcher, an All-South Central Region and All-Louisiana pitcher. His season at UNO was also the first winning season (30-28) in four years for the Privateers.
Prior to UNO, he served seven years as an assistant at Nicholls as recruiting coordinator and pitching coach. He had been a volunteer coach for three years at Nicholls before earning a full time position.
During his first stint with the Colonels, Cassard had several successful players under his wing including; ten all-conference players, three first team all Southland Conference Tournament players, four all South Central Regional players, one National Baseball Sportswriters Association Pitcher of the Week and one National Baseball Sportswriters Association Player of the Week. During his tenure, 13 of his players were drafted or signed professional contracts. He recruited and coached Nicholls' all-time single-season and career home run leader and recruited and coached Chuck Hickman, who had a 35-game hitting streak that tied a school record and broke a Louisiana college baseball record previously held by another player Cassard coached in 1996. Cassard also coached Nicholls' all-time saves and appearance leader.
Team accomplishments under Cassard at Nicholls include: 1998 and 2000 Southland Conference Tournament appearances, 1998 Southland Conference Tournament Champions, 1998 South I NCAA Regional appearance and 2002 Presidential Academic Team award, the first time given to a male team at Nicholls State University. Cassard worked under Mike Knight and was the first assistant under BD Parker, both whom have over 500 career wins. He also worked for James Pizzolatto, who was an assistant coach for Ron Frazier at the University of Miami. The highlight of Cassard’s time at Nicholls was the 2000 team that set the school record for most Southland Conference victories.Â
