University of Houston Athletics
Mason Lucas Joins Houston as Director for Player Development
8/8/2019 4:15:00 PM | Baseball
Rejoins alma mater after serving as pitching coach at Cisco College
HOUSTON -- Mason Lucas has joined the University of Houston Baseball program as its director for player development, Head Coach Todd Whitting announced Thursday afternoon.
"I am pleased to welcome back Mason to the Houston Baseball family." Whitting said. "He was a great asset for us as a student assistant, and I look forward to having him as our Director of Player Development."
His duties will include overseeing day-to-day responsibilities within the program and assisting with data analytics, on-campus recruiting and camp operations as well as a variety of other roles that aid in the development of the program's student-athletes.
"I'm incredibly excited and thankful to Coach Whitting for the opportunity to return to my alma mater and join his staff," Lucas said. "This Baseball program means a lot to me and my family, as both my uncle and grandfather played for the Cougars. Much like the city itself, the University is home for me, and there's no place I'd rather be."
Lucas comes to Houston from Cisco College where he spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons as the Wranglers' pitching coach. He also played a major role in recruiting efforts, as the program won over 80 games during his two-year stint.
In his first season in Cisco, Texas, the Wranglers were NTJCAC Region 5 Champions, posting a 52-6 record with a 26-6 mark in conference play. Cisco's pitching staff boasted three 10-game winners and led the NTJCAC in ERA (3.79) and shutouts (9) while ranking second in strikeouts (454), strikeouts-per-nine innings (9.94), walks (191) and opponent batting average (.262).
After the 2018 season, two Wranglers were taken in the MLB Draft, including Matt Willrodt, who was selected in the 15th Round (Pick 448) by the Seattle Mariners.
In total, 26 players signed with four-year programs out of Cisco across his tenure.
Prior to Cisco, the native Missouri City, Texas, served as an assistant coach at Alvin Community College from 2016 to 2017. In his role, he worked with pitchers and catchers, and handled recruiting.
The Dolphins finished third in Region 14 South both seasons and took third in the Region 14 Regional Tournament in 2016.
The 2016 Alvin pitching staff, which owned a 2.86 strikeout-to-walk ration, finished second in the South in strikeouts-per-nine innings (9.31) and third in ERA (4.97). The Dolphins' ERA improved to 4.01 in 2017.
From Alvin, 15 Dolphins signed with NCAA Division I programs, including former Houston standout Cougar Joey Pulido (2017-18), who was taken in the 32nd Round (Pick 956) by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2018 MLB Draft.
A 2015 graduate of the University of Houston, Lucas served four years with Houston Baseball as a student assistant helping managing the bullpen during practices and games.
During his time with the program, the Cougars won the American Athletic Conference Tournament in 2014 and 2015 to earn the league's automatic qualifier to NCAA Regional play. In 2014, Houston defeated host LSU in the Baton Rouge Regional to advance to Super Regionals for the first time since 2003.
The Cougars eclipsed 40 wins in both 2014 and 2015.
During his time in Houston, Lucas coached three summers in the Karl Young League. His teams won the KYL in 2013 and 2015 and featured three players who went on to be taken in the draft.STAY CONNECTED
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