Lockhart’s new Baseball Coach brings championship pedigree and relentless work ethic 

By Anthony Collins

LPR Editor                              

   Baseball has shaped nearly every chapter of the new Lockhart coach’s life.

   He has been playing or coaching the game since the age of six. Meet the new Lockhart Baseball Head Coach Robert Williams, a former player at McLennan Community College and McNeese State University, he credits baseball with molding his character and work ethic.

   “Baseball made me who I am today,” he said. “It taught me to work hard and never let life get you down. Nothing is given to you; you have to earn it.”

   His coaching journey began in Louisiana, where he coached football, basketball and softball. In his very first year as a softball head coach, he led his team to a state championship. The first three years of his career were spent building successful softball programs before a move to Texas shifted his focus back to baseball.

   In his first-year coaching baseball in Texas, his team set a school record for wins. Although they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by a team led by Andy Pettitte, the foundation for success had been laid.

   At Bellaire High School in Houston, that foundation turned into dominance. The team captured both a state championship and a national title. His pitching staff posted an extraordinary 0.83 team ERA and recorded 21 shutouts that season.

   Later, he accepted the head coaching position at Bastrop, a program that had not reached the playoffs in 17 years. By his second season, the team had returned to postseason play.

   Throughout his career, he has remained a student of the game. He and fellow coaches routinely attended clinics across the country, often visiting local high schools and colleges along the way to exchange ideas.

   On one memorable trip, he and colleagues walked into Turner Field and found themselves sitting down with Atlanta Braves legends Bobby Cox and Chipper Jones to talk baseball.

   Those experiences, he says, helped shape his philosophy. “What I bring to Lockhart is everything I’ve learned over the years from some of the great baseball minds in the game,” he said.

   His message to players is simple: no one will outwork them. “We want to win in every aspect of the game,” he said. “That means hustling on and off the field. Beating the runner to first. Chasing down passed balls. Understanding that the little things matter.”

   He believes Lockhart is the right fit for both his family and his coaching vision. “I’ve always known Lockhart has great athletes,” he said. “I want the chance to coach them and teach them the game that I love so much.”

He emphasizes that every player has value in his program. “My players know I will do anything for them, whether they’re a starter or coming off the bench. Everyone on this team matters.”

   As the new season unfolds, he sees enthusiasm and hunger to improve. “I told them it’s not about winning or losing right now,” he said. “It’s about learning and getting better. When district play gets here, we want to be ready to make a run.”

   Despite a few close losses, he believes the team is on the brink of something special. “We’re only a play here and there from being 5-0,” he said. “I think we’re going to surprise some teams that think we’re an easy win. Not this team. They’re ready to compete and battle every single game.”

    For Lockhart baseball, the message is clear: the standard is effort, the goal is growth, and the expectation is to compete, every pitch, every inning, every game.