LA Tech coaches, admins make commitment to scholarships for returning Student-Athletes

RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech’s baseball and softball coaches and members of the senior administration have made a financial commitment to help fund the scholarships for the seven student-athletes (six baseball, one softball) that will return for another senior season.

Following the cancellation of spring sports in March due to Covid-19, Director of Athletics Tommy McClelland announced that the department would fund the additional scholarships for the senior classes for those two sports – two programs that had been impacted by the EF3 tornado the previous year as well.

McClelland said the seven scholarships would be funded through private donations – not through the University budget – and thus the Louisiana Tech Athletics Club (LTAC) staff has set a goal for former baseball and softball players to help fund as close to 100 percent of these scholarship as possible.

Head baseball coach Lane Burroughs and his staff and assistant softball coach Bianca Duran have made donations directly towards funding these scholarships while McClelland and his senior staff (Mary Kay Hungate, Paul Kabbes, Malcolm Butler, Gerald Jordan, Tim Padgett and Alan Savage) have also donated directly to the cause.

“My staff is thrilled to support these young men and women returning for their senior season in the spring,” said Burroughs. “The commitment they have shown to Louisiana Tech is second to none and this is the least we could do. I encourage all former Bulldogs to join us in these efforts.”

“As a coach and an alum of this program and this University, it makes me feel good to help support these young men and women who are getting another opportunity to represent their school on the field,” said Duran. “I would encourage all former Lady Techster Softball alums to do the same, no matter how large or small the donation.”

Earlier this week, members of the LA Tech Athletics Admin along with the coaches for those two sports conducted zoom calls with alums from baseball and softball to give them a behind the scenes look into the progress on the two new facilities that are currently under construction. Director of Disaster Recovery and Strategic Initiatives Adam McGuirt provided renderings, drawings, updated images of construction and details to the alums.

Although gifts towards these scholarship initiatives do not count towards LTAC benefits as they are considered above and beyond philanthropic giving, all donations are 100 percent tax deductible.

Bulldog and Lady Techster alums – and all fans – can donate towards this cause through the following link: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/810/rd/interior.aspx?sid=810&gid=1&pgid=340&cid=860&dids=338

Anyone with questions can contact Alan Savage (319-573-5194 or asavage@latechalumni.org) in the LTAC office.