Louisiana State University Baseball has been on a hot streak for the 2025 season. But the Tigers aren’t the only team worth watching–University Laboratory High School is fiercely defending its 2024 state championship title as it prepares for the 2025 playoffs.

“We’ve kind of built a culture here, and that culture revolves around winning,” high school senior Jake McCann said. “Both teams have done a lot of winning, which is good.”

However, several students from last year’s championship team were part of the Class of 2024, leaving the Cubs with mainly underclassmen. The void left by those seniors, combined with the installation of head coach Jon Ramsey, created the perfect foundation for LSU student Michael Campbell to join the U High Baseball coaching staff.

“My mom grew up here and told me about the school, I was going to try to work at Parkview, but U High was on campus,” Michael Campbell said in a text interview. “I was just interested in coaching. Both of my parents instilled in me that going into college, people can only say one of two things: yes and no.”

It was not difficult for Campbell to fit into the Cubs family–U High’s mascot being Cubs. His closeness in age helps him relate to the players in ways some of the coaches can’t. Having played baseball himself just a few years ago, Campbell brings a fresh understanding of the game. Still, he says there’s a big difference between playing and coaching.

“Having to kind of switch my brain from player to coach is very different,” Campbell said. “But I love being able to talk to the guys and throw in some gems here and there–and be able to develop them into men.”

Many of the players have expressed their admiration for Campbell’s character and have given him the loving nickname ‘Doonie’.

“We’ve been really close and he inspires me and helps me grow a greater relationship with God,” Brody Mayeux, who is one of the pitchers for the Cubs, said. “He helps me become a better person and better at baseball.”

“He’s been a great addition to the team,” McCan said. “He’s the first guy to pick you up when you’re feeling down. He’ll ask you how you’re day’s going, and it’s really good to have a guy like that in the dugout at all times.”

Since joining U High’s coaching staff, Campbell has curated strong connections with the administration and staff, with many taking a liking to him because of his positive energy. One of Campbell’s favorite parts of the job has been getting to see students in school whenever he visits campus and interacting with students during the school day.

“You can see that through the parents and through the players. So I’d say the community of the school and just being able to build a relationship with parents and coaches and players and staff, and teachers,” Campbell said. “Just being able to do that.”

“He’s brought some of the things he’s learned while he was in high school,” Jon Ramsey, head coach of U High’s Baseball team, said. “I always take new things into consideration. I can’t say I have changed anything, but he does bring a fresh new approach and some new ideas that I haven’t heard of before.”

As the Cubs charge forward to another shot at a state title, it’s clear the team’s spirit is just as strong as it’s swing.