Three very special visitors came to Alex Box Stadium during Saturday afternoon’s 10-5 LSU victory.
But assistant coach Jody Autery had no idea. In fact, he did not see his triplets, Beau, Gracie and Faith, in the stands until nearly halfway through the game.
Autery’s wife, Beth, gave birth to the triplets on Oct. 1, 2002.
“[Saturday] was the first day they’ve been to the ballgame, the first ballgame ever,” Autery said. “I had no idea until about the fifth inning. People got my attention, and I looked up. It meant a lot to have them out here for the first time. It’s the greatest thing in the world.”
Autery is a volunteer assistant coach for the Tigers but contributes in many ways. He is the third base coach when LSU is batting and also coaches the outfielders. In addition, he is the co-director of the Smoke Laval Baseball Camp.
He knows having triplets is something special.
“It’s very unique,” Autery said. “It’s three times the blessing.”
If the triplets were not just leaping toward their first birthdays, they might be aware of the fact that their father was a successful athlete.
Autery was a contributing pitcher at Cumberland University, located in Lebanon, Tenn., when his team finished runners-up to the 1995 NAIA World Series. In addition, Autery was the football team’s tight end.
Autery arrived at LSU in 2000, where he was a student assistant coach from 2000-01. He was promoted to assistant coach before this season began and said he enjoys working for LSU head coach Smoke Laval.
“Smoke is the greatest,” Autery said. “He’s not just a coach, he’s a teacher. Whether it’s with the players or us, he’s just the best. That’s why you’ll see a lot of success.”
But to players like right fielder Jon Zeringue, Autery has been a great teacher as well. Zeringue struggled mightily with his defense last year after moving from catcher to the outfield. He said Autery never lost faith in him.
“He’s all support for me,” Zeringue said. “When people told me I was a terrible outfielder, Jody was always there for me. He took it upon himself to make me a good outfielder. I respect him for that. I think the work and hours we put in together really helped a lot.”
Autery said the group of LSU outfielders is one of the fastest in the nation. He downplays his role as coach saying he just hits flyballs to them.
However, Zeringue said the two have worked on drills ranging from taking the correct drop step to get the right jump on a fly ball to hitting the cut-off man properly.
Laval said Autery is a good coach who will be successful and rise through the ranks.
“He wants to be a coach,” Laval said. “He has a goal and a vision. His forte is that he always sees things through. He doesn’t come up with an idea and let it sit. When the opportunity comes, someone will pick up a darn good coach.”
Zeringue said the two share a special friendship.
“I can relate with Jody more than anybody else,” Zeringue said. “Me and him have some kind of bond.”
Autery earned his bachelor’s degree in 2001 from LSU and is working toward a master’s in sports administration.
Zeringue said when it comes down to it, the two enjoy a solid friendship.
“We’re always out there joking around, and when it’s time to get serious, we get serious,” Zeringue said. “He respects me, and I respect him. I think it works out perfectly. It’s how a coach and player should be.”