Javi Sanchez enters his sixth season at LSU after helping lead the Tigers to the 2009 national championship, two College World Series appearances and two SEC titles in the past five seasons. Sanchez worked as LSU's volunteer coach during the 2008 season, and he was promoted to full-time assistant coach on June 26, 2008.

Sanchez serves as the Tigers' hitting coach while supervising the baserunning and working extensively with the LSU catchers. He also works as the Tigers' third-base coach during games.

Sanchez coached the nation's leading hitter in 2012, as outfielder Raph Rhymes batted .431 and earned First-Team All-America and SEC Player of the Year honors. The 2012 LSU lineup tutored by Sanchez led the SEC in runs scored (397) and RBI (368).

Sanchez coached an LSU lineup in 2011 that finished in the Top 5 in the SEC in nine different offensive categories, including runs scored (388, No. 2) and batting average (.303, No. 3). Outfielder Mikie Mahtook flourished under Sanchez's tutelage, earning first-team All-America honors before being selected in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft by Tampa Bay.

Three of Sanchez's hitters were selected in the first eight rounds of the 2010 MLB Draft - catcher Micah Gibbs (3rd round), outfielder Leon Landry (3rd round) and first baseman Blake Dean (8th round). The 2010 Tigers appeared in the Top 5 of 12 different SEC offensive categories.

Sanchez worked behind the plate for three seasons with Gibbs, a 2010 All-America selection, a 2009 ABCA Gold Glove winner and the starting catcher for the 2008 United States National Team.

Sanchez supervised an LSU lineup in 2009 that produced some of the best offensive numbers in Fighting Tiger history. LSU finished the season No. 2 in the nation in hits (783) and No. 3 in runs (575). The Tigers were also fourth in the nation in walks (350) and eighth in home runs (107).

The 2009 Tigers were No. 1 in the SEC in hits, runs, walks, total bases (1284), RBI (532), doubles (142), triples (19) and stolen bases (114). LSU led the league in hits for the first time since 2004.

Sanchez supervised the development of five players selected in the first 11 rounds of the 2009 MLB Draft -- OF Jared Mitchell (1st round), 2B DJ LeMahieu (2nd round), INF Ryan Schimpf (5th round), OF Blake Dean (10th round) and INF/C Sean Ochinko (11th round).

Under Sanchez's direction, the Tiger base runners swiped 114 bases in 2009, marking the most steals by an LSU squad since 1994 (116 steals).

Sanchez came to LSU as volunteer coach in July 2007 after playing four seasons of minor league baseball in the Minnesota Twins organization. He was the Twins' 14th-round draft choice in 2004 as a catcher after playing four seasons (2001-04) under Paul Mainieri at Notre Dame.

Sanchez, a Miami, Fla. native, helped lead the Irish to the 2002 College World Series as Notre Dame's starting shortstop, batting .281 with seven doubles, three triples, five homers, 29 RBI and 50 runs. A second baseman in high school, he was moved to shortstop early in the '02 season after injuries sidelined two other Irish infielders.

Sanchez played the final two seasons of his collegiate career as Notre Dame's starting catcher, earning 2003 Big East Tournament MVP honors. He was also voted to the 2003 NCAA Fullerton Regional all-tournament team.

Sanchez earned third-team all-Big East honors in 2004 while also serving as one of Notre Dame's three team captains.

Sanchez, who owns a business management degree from Notre Dame, completed his pro baseball career in June 2007 with the Fort Myers Miracle, the Twins' Single-A affiliate.

The Sanchez File
Year at LSU: Sixth
Birthdate: November 8, 1981
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Wife: Michelle (married Dec. 11, 2010)
Child: Valentina (born November 2012)
Education: Notre Dame, 2004 B.S. in business management

Playing Career
2001-04 Notre Dame
2004-07 Minnesota Twins affiliates

Coaching Career
2009- LSU (hitting coach)
2008 LSU (volunteer coach)