Mike Littlewood Explained

Mike Littlewood
Player Years1:1985–1988
Player Team1:BYU
Player Years2:1988
Player Team2:Beloit Brewers
Player Positions:Third baseman / Shortstop
Coach Years1:1993–1995
Coach Team1:Salt Lake City (UT) Alta
Coach Years2:1996–2012
Coach Team2:Dixie State Red Storm(Rebels until 2009)
Coach Years3:2013–2022
Coach Team3:BYU Cougars
Overall Record:867–457
Championships:
  • WCC regular season (2016, 2017, 2019)
  • WCC tournament (2017)
Awards:
  • WCC Coach of the Year (2019)

Michael Rory Littlewood is an American baseball coach. He played college baseball at BYU from 1985 to 1988, before playing professionally in 1988. He then served as the head coach of then Dixie State Rebels (later called "Red Storm", now Utah Tech Trailblazers) from 1996-2012, and then the BYU Cougars (2013–2022.)[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Playing career

Littlewood was a third baseman at BYU, earning All-Conference as both a junior and senior. He was drafted in the 27th round of the 1988 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers and played one season at Class-A Beloit Brewers.

Coaching career

Shortly after his playing career ended, Littlewood accepted the head coaching position at Alta High School in Sandy, Utah. He remained for three seasons before moving to Dixie State, then a junior college in St. George, Utah. Under Littlewood, the Rebels (and Red Storm) won 563 games, won one national championship, made four appearances in the National Junior College World Series, and claimed eight league titles. Littlewood was named National JUCO Coach of the Year in 2004. Dixie State transitioned to the Division II level under Littlewood in 2007. Littlewood also served during this time as an NCAA basketball referee, working three NCAA Sweet 16s and two Elite 8s.

After being a finalist for the BYU head coaching position in 2000, when Vance Law earned the job, Littlewood was hired at BYU prior to the 2013 season. In his first season, the Cougars tied for second in the West Coast Conference and qualified for the first WCC tournament.

He was named the West Coast Conference Coach of the Year in 2019.[6] On April 11, 2022, Littlewood resigned midseason for personal reasons.[7]

Head coaching record

This table shows Littlewood's record as a head coach at the Division I level.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mike Littlewood Staff Bio. BYU Cougars. October 8, 2013.
  2. News: BYU baseball coach Mike Littlewood got Cougars close to NCAA postseason. Deseret News. Dick Harmon. May 27, 2013. October 8, 2013.
  3. News: Littlewood gives up moonlighting gig to go full-time at alma mater. Daily Herald. June 28, 2012. Jason Franchuk. October 8, 2013.
  4. Web site: BYU hires Littlewood for baseball post; Search is on for new Dixie State skipper. stgnews.com. June 28, 2012. Andy Griffin. October 8, 2013.
  5. Web site: 2022-04-11 . BYU announces the abrupt in-season resignation of baseball coach Mike Littlewood . 2022-04-12 . Deseret News . en.
  6. Web site: WCC Announces 2019 Baseball All-Conference Teams . May 21, 2019 . West Coast Conference . www.wccsports.com . June 2, 2019.
  7. Web site: BYU baseball coach Mike Littlewood resigns in the middle of season . April 11, 2022 . Kevin Reynolds . The Salt Lake Tribune . www.sltrib.com . April 13, 2022.