Southeastern Louisiana University will be inducting six new members to the SLU Athletics Hall of Fame at Friday's North Oaks Health System SLU Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet. Each day this week, we'll share an interview with a member of the 2025 class.
9/7: Mack Boatner, Football
9/8: Courtney Donald Sweeney, Volleyball
9/9: Cqulin Hubert, Football
9/10: Ed Nodhturft, Baseball
9/11: Hope Sabadash, Soccer
9/12: Sarah Williams, Women's Basketball
Ed Nodhturft, Baseball
Nodhturft, who played for the Lions in 1996 and 1997, will be the 28th Southeastern baseball player inducted into the SLU Athletics Hall of Fame. A member of Southeastern's All-Decade Team for the 1990's, he ranks among the school career leaders with a .356 batting average and 31 home runs.
An ABCA All-Region, first team All-TAAC and first team All-Louisiana selection in 1997, Nodhturft's final-season totals of a .376 batting average, 18 home runs and 67 RBI all are among the highest single-season totals in program history.
Nodhturft recently discussed his time at Southeastern and upcoming induction with LionSports.net.
LionSports.net: What was your reaction when you found out you'd been elected to the Southeastern Athletics Hall of Fame?
Nodhturft: I was excited. It had been a long time, so I had got to the point where I thought it wasn't going to happen. Coach (Greg) Marten was the one who called me to tell me and that was special, because he's been such a big part of my life even since my playing days.
LionSports.net: What were some of your favorite memories of your time at Southeastern?
Nodhturft: I met my wife (former Lady Lion volleyball player Danielle Dugas) while I was in Hammond. I was fortunate to play with guys like Jeff Williams and Kenny Rogers, which was exciting.
My senior year, I came up to bat with the bases loaded in a tie game against Florida Atlantic. FAU changed pitchers and I remember talking to Macky Waguespack, who is another great player I was fortunate to play with, in the on deck circle. I said 'he's going to throw me a curveball and after that, the next pitch I'm going to hit out of the ball park'. Sure enough, the first pitch was a curve ball that was off the plate and the next pitch was a fastball and I hit a home run.
I remember those bus rides and road trips. I made some friends during my time at Southeastern that I'm still close with today – Chris Englund, Jay Brockett and Mickey Mounger. As much as I loved playing baseball, those relationships mean everything to me. Those guys are from all over the country and I would've never had the opportunity to meet them without being a part of the SLU baseball program.
I wasn't initially recruited to Southeastern. I went to Jefferson Davis Community College and signed with another school, but decided I didn't want to go. So, I sat out a year and decided I really missed baseball.
A former teammate of mine, Mike Kimbrell, was at SLU and I asked him if he though the coaches would talk to me.
After a few discussions with my junior college coach, the coaches were convinced to bring me to Hammond. I had told them before I got there, "I'll be your best hitter for the next two years and I'll hit in the three-hole for you." When I showed up in Hammond, I walked into the baseball office wearing a white t-shirt, baggy jeans, Chuck Taylor shoes and had earrings in my ears. (Assistant coaches) Johnny Brechtel and Mark Gosnell saw me and asked, "Who are you?"
I told them, "I'm Ed Nodhturft." They said, "So you're the guy who is going to hit three-hole for us?" I think, at first, they didn't know what they had gotten in to, but they trusted my junior college coach and he had told them I could hit. So that was how it all started for me in Hammond.
LionSports.net: How did your experience as a student-athlete shape you for the rest of your life?
Nodhturft: I met people here in Hammond, first and foremost my wife, who I never would have without having my experience as a student-athlete. I always appreciated the way the Hammond community supported us and looked out for us. I was a different person when I left Southeastern than I was when I got there. The way people treated me here was very special.
I still have letters that (Southeastern Athletics Hall of Famer and long-time athletic trainer) Doc Goodwin sent to my parents when I was playing telling them how good I was doing and that they should be proud of me. I had never had anyone do anything like that for me before.
LionSports.net: Have you been able to continue to keep up the Lions following your playing days?
Nodhturft: I watch every game on ESPN+. When the team first broke out the Hammond, America jerseys, I was one of the first ones calling the athletic department to see how I could get one of those Hammond, America t-shirts.
