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Ledbetter to Transition into Volunteer Coach Role
Lincoln, Neb. - Head Coach Darin Erstad announced on Wednesday that Curtis Ledbetter will take on a new role with the Nebraska baseball team as the volunteer coach after spending 10 years as the team’s director of operations.
“We could not be more excited to add Coach Ledbetter to our staff,” Erstad said. “He has been a vital part of the Nebraska baseball program for last 10 years in the director of operations role. Coach Ledbetter wants to pursue his dream of coaching college baseball, and I am glad he chose our program to chase his dream.”
Ledbetter, a former all-conference performer at Nebraska, joined the Husker staff in May of 2008 after a stint in professional baseball. Starting with the 2019 season, he will be the Huskers’ first-base coach.
“The past 10 years have provided an amazing experience for my family and I here while serving as the director of baseball operations,” Ledbetter said. “I’m super excited for the opportunity Coach Erstad has offered to me to be on his 2019 staff in a slightly different role. Coaching is something that I’ve eventually wanted to do since stepping foot back on campus following my playing career. It’s something that I’m very passionate about, and a chapter in my life which I’m extremely excited for. This place has provided opportunities for me in the past 17 years that I’ll never be able to repay it for, but I’m fired up to continue giving it a try, now in helping these student-athletes grow as people and ball players on the diamond.”
An 18th-round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2005, Ledbetter played professional baseball for three years, earning Frontier League all-star honors in 2007 – his final season in the professional ranks. In addition to his playing duties, Ledbetter worked at the Nebraska Baseball Academy.
Ledbetter was a three-year starter for the Huskers from 2003 to 2005, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors at two positions (designated hitter and first base). He ranks among the best in NU baseball history in several categories, including career hits (tied for 21st, 223), career home runs (tied for 10th, 34), career RBIs (10th, 165), career doubles (tied for fifth, 47) and career putouts (second, 1,216).
Ledbetter holds the school record for single-season putouts (655), which he achieved as part of Nebraska’s 2005 College World Series team. He added Big 12 Tournament MVP honors to his list of accomplishments as a senior in 2005, as the Huskers swept the conference regular-season and tournament titles. Ledbetter also earned NCAA Tournament All-Regional honors in 2003 and 2005.
In the classroom, Ledbetter was a three-time academic All-Big 12 selection, a Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll member and graduated from Nebraska in 2005 with a degree in journalism. He added a master’s degree in education administration in December of 2012.
A native of Lawrence, Kan., Ledbetter played one season at Garden City Community College, earning honorable-mention All-Jayhawk League accolades. He hit .404 with 13 home runs and threw out 50 percent of would-be base stealers as the team’s catcher.
Ledbetter to Transition into Volunteer Coach Role
Lincoln, Neb. - Head Coach Darin Erstad announced on Wednesday that Curtis Ledbetter will take on a new role with the Nebraska baseball team as the volunteer coach after spending 10 years as the team’s director of operations.
“We could not be more excited to add Coach Ledbetter to our staff,” Erstad said. “He has been a vital part of the Nebraska baseball program for last 10 years in the director of operations role. Coach Ledbetter wants to pursue his dream of coaching college baseball, and I am glad he chose our program to chase his dream.”
Ledbetter, a former all-conference performer at Nebraska, joined the Husker staff in May of 2008 after a stint in professional baseball. Starting with the 2019 season, he will be the Huskers’ first-base coach.
“The past 10 years have provided an amazing experience for my family and I here while serving as the director of baseball operations,” Ledbetter said. “I’m super excited for the opportunity Coach Erstad has offered to me to be on his 2019 staff in a slightly different role. Coaching is something that I’ve eventually wanted to do since stepping foot back on campus following my playing career. It’s something that I’m very passionate about, and a chapter in my life which I’m extremely excited for. This place has provided opportunities for me in the past 17 years that I’ll never be able to repay it for, but I’m fired up to continue giving it a try, now in helping these student-athletes grow as people and ball players on the diamond.”
An 18th-round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2005, Ledbetter played professional baseball for three years, earning Frontier League all-star honors in 2007 – his final season in the professional ranks. In addition to his playing duties, Ledbetter worked at the Nebraska Baseball Academy.
Ledbetter was a three-year starter for the Huskers from 2003 to 2005, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors at two positions (designated hitter and first base). He ranks among the best in NU baseball history in several categories, including career hits (tied for 21st, 223), career home runs (tied for 10th, 34), career RBIs (10th, 165), career doubles (tied for fifth, 47) and career putouts (second, 1,216).
Ledbetter holds the school record for single-season putouts (655), which he achieved as part of Nebraska’s 2005 College World Series team. He added Big 12 Tournament MVP honors to his list of accomplishments as a senior in 2005, as the Huskers swept the conference regular-season and tournament titles. Ledbetter also earned NCAA Tournament All-Regional honors in 2003 and 2005.
In the classroom, Ledbetter was a three-time academic All-Big 12 selection, a Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll member and graduated from Nebraska in 2005 with a degree in journalism. He added a master’s degree in education administration in December of 2012.
A native of Lawrence, Kan., Ledbetter played one season at Garden City Community College, earning honorable-mention All-Jayhawk League accolades. He hit .404 with 13 home runs and threw out 50 percent of would-be base stealers as the team’s catcher.
