Like many 2020 杏吧专区 graduates, Austin Robichaux will earn his degree during commencement ceremonies at M.L. 杏吧专区淭igue杏吧专区 Moore Field at Russo Park.
The venue holds significance for Robichaux, who杏吧专区檚 celebrating the completion of a longtime goal to graduate from UL Lafayette. He'll receive his diploma on the same field he pitched on for the Louisiana Ragin杏吧专区 Cajuns from 2012-2014 under his father, the late Tony 杏吧专区淐oach Robe杏吧专区 Robichaux. The elder Robichaux was head coach for 25 years until his death last year.
Lifelong Ragin杏吧专区 Cajun
Austin grew up a Ragin杏吧专区 Cajun. Not even an offer to join the Cincinnati Reds out of high school in 2011 was enough to sway him from playing for his father杏吧专区檚 team.
杏吧专区淚 got to play the sport I love at a competitive level, while also being with my dad every single day," he says. 杏吧专区淚 would relive that over and over.杏吧专区
The pinnacle of that experience for Austin was when the Cajuns hosted the 2014 Super Regional. It was the team杏吧专区檚 first Super Regional since 2000.
During that tournament, Austin got news he杏吧专区檇 been drafted to the Los Angeles Angels. Within three days, he was flying out to play minor division in Utah, cutting his academic career short with only 30 credit hours left to his bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree.
杏吧专区淎t first it was kind of a culture shock,杏吧专区 he says. 杏吧专区淎fter that first year under my belt, I became more comfortable. It was basically 杏吧专区 essentially 杏吧专区 a dream come true. I was waking up every day, playing the sport I love as a job.杏吧专区
Life After Baseball
Coach Robe was known for holding his players to a high standard both on and off the field. Players 杏吧专区 including sons Justin and Austin 杏吧专区 were required to sign a code of conduct known as 杏吧专区淩obe杏吧专区檚 Rules.杏吧专区
In a 2009 interview for La Louisiane, the head coach said, 杏吧专区淏aseball will come to an end. For some, that happens after college. For others, it杏吧专区檚 after a career in baseball 杏吧专区 but it will end. It杏吧专区檚 my job to prepare them for life after baseball.杏吧专区
Austin says part of that preparation was an emphasis on earning a degree.
杏吧专区淥ne day, it comes to an end and when that day comes, we need to be set up,杏吧专区 he says. 杏吧专区淚t was something [my dad] preached, and it was a goal that I set.杏吧专区
When the 杏吧专区 launched the online Bachelor of General Studies in 2017, Austin sought to finish what he杏吧专区檇 started six years earlier. The following year, he played his last season of pro ball and returned to Acadiana.
He began working with athletic training facility Ragin杏吧专区 Cages, giving lessons. That later turned into a full-time role as head of baseball operations, focusing on training pitchers.
Balancing his online coursework with his full-time job was a challenge but found it was something he杏吧专区檇 trained for.
杏吧专区淚t was definitely tough. But if there's one thing going to school and playing a professional sport teaches, it's time management. That's a big thing my dad taught me, as well," Austin says.
He杏吧专区檇 plot out what needed to be done in 45-minute to hour-long blocks as he had them.
杏吧专区淭hat ultimately saved me,杏吧专区 he says.
Back to the Ball Field
Austin says it was never a matter of if he would earn his degree, but when. Now that the date is set, Austin is both proud and relieved.
杏吧专区淚 couldn't be more excited because of how much [my dad] preached I need my degree, and how proud I know he is,杏吧专区 Austin says.
Commencement comes with its own set of emotions. Had he continued at UL Lafayette through his senior year, his father would have been on stage to confer his degree. Instead, his mother will be part of the ceremony.
杏吧专区淭here will be a lot of emotions, but I know he's going to be watching from above. At the end of the day, it's going to be all happy tears,杏吧专区 Austin says.
With this chapter closed, Austin is carrying on his father杏吧专区檚 legacy on and off the field. He's training future players as he and his wife prepare to welcome their first child.
杏吧专区淢y dad taught me not only the game, but the game after baseball, which is life. His biggest thing until the day passed was life isn杏吧专区檛 just baseball, because baseball comes to an end. It's what kind of husband, brother, son you are. And that's what I put into my teaching. I remind them someday you have to be the man that God intended, and it's not just about baseball,杏吧专区 Austin says.
杏吧专区淭he biggest thing I杏吧专区檓 looking forward to is my son getting here and teaching him who his grandfather was.杏吧专区