04 Aug 2021 Mattox returns to Hendrix as outfielder coach, co-hitting instructor

CONWAY – Former Hendrix outfielders coach and hitting instructor Jay Mattox has been hired to oversee the same positions, head coach R.J. Thomas announced as he finalizes his staff to begin his second stint in Conway. Mattox, who like Thomas is a Conway native and Conway High School alumnus, will serve as co-hitting instructor alongside infielders coach J.D. Pulfer.

“Jay is a staple of Hendrix baseball, and I am excited to have him back on my staff,” Thomas said. “His ability to develop relationships and instill confidence make him a perfect addition to our coaching staff.”

Mattox spent nine seasons (2008-16) as the Hendrix outfielders coach and hitting instructor, including the first five during Thomas’ first run as head coach, as the two guided the Warriors to three Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) tournaments, including two appearances in the SCAC Tournament championship game and the 2009 title, the first in program history. Following the 2009 conference tournament championship, Hendrix advanced to the West Regional of the NCAA tournament, its only appearance in the national championship in program history.

“I am very excited and extremely grateful to be back at Hendrix and with Coach Thomas,” Mattox said. “Hendrix is a special place, and I cannot wait to watch our guys compete for championships.”

In nine seasons with the Warriors, Mattox coached eight All-SCAC and six All-Southern Athletic Association (SAA) outfielders.

Mattox helped develop Collin Radack, the 2014 SAA Player of the Year and consensus All-American who became a 20th round selection in the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Saint Louis Cardinals. In Hendrix career history, Radack ranks first in at-bats, hits, runs, steals, steal attempts, and triples, second in doubles and starts, tied for second in games played, third in batting average, sixth in RBIs and on base percentage and seventh in slugging percentage.

Of the top 10 offensive rankings in each category of Hendrix career history, the following number occurred during Mattox’s tenure – 10 in games played and starts, nine in at-bats, eight in hits and RBIs, seven in runs, doubles and triples, six in walks, five in on base percentage, steals and steal attempts, four in home runs, three in batting average and stolen base percentage and two in slugging percentage.

Of the top 10 offensive rankings in each category of Hendrix single-season history, the following number occurred during Mattox’s tenure – 12 in starts, 10 in triples, eight in games played and runs, five in slugging percentage, at-bats and RBIs, four in walks, four in home runs, batting average, on base percentage and steals, hits and doubles and three in steal attempts.

In 2016, Mattox helped Hendrix lead the SAA in fielding percentage and rank second in the league and 13th nationally in sacrifice flies.

Matthew Lillard and Tanner Cooper ranked first (eighth nationally) and second (22nd), respectively, in the SAA in sacrifice flies.

In 2015, under Mattox’s tutelage, Seth Mobley was second in the SAA and 12th nationally in sacrifice bunts. Ryan Ritz ranked second in the league and 18th nationally as toughest to strike out.

In 2014, Hendrix ranked second in the SAA in batting average and hit by pitch (57th) and third (39th) in sacrifice flies.

Ritz ranked as the toughest player in the SAA and ninth nationally to strike out. Radack led the league in batting average, stolen bases per game (11th), hits (17th), runs per game (19th), runs (20th) and total bases (49th) and was second in stolen bases (third) and triples (73rd). Mobley and Matt Simmons were third and fourth, respectively, in sacrifice bunts. Thomas Weber ranked sixth in sacrifice flies.

In 2013, Hendrix’s first year in the SAA, the Warriors were second in the league and 69th nationally in fielding percentage and third in the conference in sacrifice flies (30th) and hit by pitch (61st).

Radack ranked second in the league in batting average. Simmons was second in the SAA in sacrifice bunts and fourth in sacrifice flies (25th).

In 2012, Hendrix led the SCAC in triples per game (fifth) and triples (eighth) and ranked second in sacrifice bunts, hit by pitch (fifth), sacrifice flies (26th), fielding percentage (37th), scoring (57th) and batting average (73rd), third in doubles (55th) and fourth in slugging percentage (70th).

Mark Vlaskamp led the SCAC in hit by pitch per game (sixth) and hit by pitch (seventh). Andrew Thames led the league in sacrifice flies (seventh). Clark Sims was atop the SCAC in runs per game (20th). Vlaskamp was second in the league in on base percentage (18th), while Sims was second in triples (13th), runs (19th) and triples per game (20th). Radack was third in RBIs per game (42nd), fourth in hits (90th) and fifth in RBIs (58th).

In 2011 (first season of available statistics on NCAA Statistics website), Hendrix ranked second in the SCAC in triples (36th) and triples per game (45th), third in fielding percentage and fourth in stolen bases (45th) and stolen bases per game (50th).

Jeff Forgerson finished second in the SCAC in triples (33rd) and triples per game (55th). Kyle Raskin was third in triples. Sims and Radack were third and seventh, respectively, in stolen bases per game, and fourth (56th) and sixth in stolen bases. Jacob Perschke ranked seventh in sacrifice flies. Nathan Harr was eighth and ninth, respectively, in walks and walks per game.

Mattox was an outfielder for two seasons (2005-06) at East Carolina after transferring from Chipola (Fla.) and LSU.

In 2006, Mattox helped the Pirates to a 33-26 overall record. In 58 starts, he batted 0.309 with five homers, 35 RBIs, 42 runs, 71 hits, eight doubles, four triples, 102 total bases, 19 walks, three hit by pitch, a 0.443 slugging percentage and a 0.985 fielding percentage. Mattox led the team in steals (14) and tied for the top spot in steal attempts (19).

In 2005, Mattox helped guide the Pirates to a 35-27 overall record, including an 18-12 mark in Conference USA, and berth in the Tempe Regional of the Division I Baseball Championship. In 27 appearances, with 14 starts, he batted 0.286 with one dinger, four RBIs, 10 runs, 18 hits, three doubles, one triple, 26 total bases, four walks, one hit by pitch, a 0.413 slugging percentage and a 0.929 fielding percentage.

Mattox spent two seasons (2003-04) at Chipola and was an all-conference pick each year. A 2004 Baseball America pre-season All-American, he hit 0.331 with nine home runs and 14 doubles to go along with 27 steals.

Mattox was a 35th round pick of the Anaheim (now Los Angeles) Angels in the 2003 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft but did not sign.

In 2003, Mattox helped lead the Indians to a conference title. As a redshirt freshman, he hit 0.351 with three home runs, 20 RBIs, nine doubles and one triple.

Off the field, Mattox was named to the Dean’s List in the first semester of the 2002-03 academic year.

As a freshman in 2002, Mattox played in two games for reigning College World Series champion LSU and stole one base before sustaining a season-ending injury and redshirting. That season, the Tigers finished ranked No. 9 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’, Baseball America and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association polls and No. 10 in the Collegiate Baseball poll after going 44-23-1 overall, including 18-12 in the SEC, winning the Baton Rouge Regional and reaching the if necessary game of the New Orleans Super Regional.

Mattox earned a Bachelor of Science in communications from East Carolina in 2006.

Mattox was a fourth round pick of the Chicago White Sox in the 2001 MLB Draft but did not sign.

Mattox was a three-year letterman (1999-2001) and all-conference performer and two-time all-state selection under former Wampus Cats head coach Noel Boucher. In three varsity seasons, he batted 0.446 and totaled 20 homers, 104 RBIs, 124 hits, 37 doubles, 10 triples and 42 stolen bases. Mattox set program records for hits, doubles and triples.

As a senior, Mattox was named Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year and to the All-America third team.

Mattox was selected to the 2000 Area Code Games All-Star Team.

Mattox helped pilot Conway to a pair of conference championships in 1999 and 2000.

Jay and his wife, Sydney (Selby), have one daughter, Remi.