Dillon Lawson returns for his third season as the Redhawks’ assistant coach. Lawson serves as the hitting coach for Southeast as well as the team’s defensive instructor.
In his second season at Southeast, Lawson took the Redhawk offense to new heights. Southeast ranked nationally in a number of statistical categories. The team’s .309 batting average ranked ninth in the nation. Southeast averaged 7.2 runs a game, ranking eighth, while their 408 total runs ranked ninth. The Redhawks finished second in the country in sacrifice flies with 47 on the season. Southeast Missouri boasted a .389 on-base percentage and a .422 slugging percentage on the season. Defensively, the Redhawks turned the ninth-most double plays and averaged 1.11 per game. On the bases, Southeast ranked 10th in the nation with 97 stolen bases; stealing 1.7 bases a game.
Lawson mentored All-Americans Derek Gibson and Matt Tellor in 2014. Individually, Gibson and Tellor ranked nationally in a number of categories. Tellor ranked in the top 25 in 10 different statistical categories while Gibson appeared in five top 25 lists. Tellor was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in the 10th round. Tellor was the 313th overall pick of the draft. Gibson signed a free agent contract with the St. Louis Cardinals following the 2014 campaign.
Tellor was named OVC Player of the Year. Gibson joined Tellor on the First Team All-OVC roster in 2014.
After his first season, the Redhawks hit .285 as a team, fourth-best in the OVC, with a .392 slugging percentage. Southeast recorded 583 hits, also fourth in the conference. Individually, Dalton Hewitt hit among the best in the league with a .345 batting average.
Lawson came to Southeast after serving as an assistant coach at Morehead State for three seasons (2010-12). He served as the Eagles’ pitching coach for two seasons before serving as the hitting coach in 2012, junior college recruiter and assisted in their strength and conditioning programs.
In 2012, Lawson helped guide the Eagles to their first winning season in five years. The Eagles also qualified for the OVC Tournament in 2012.
In 2010 he helped Morehead State rank in the top 10 in NCAA Division I in several offensive categories as a team. Lawson also coached 25 players that ranked in the NCAA Division I in various offensive categories.
Prior to his time at Morehead State, Lawson spent time at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri from 2007-2009. He helped guide the Lions to back-to-back NAIA Regional Finals. Lawson coached one NAIA All-American and one Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner.
In the summers of 2010 and 2011 Lawson was a Head Coach at the IMG Baseball Academy Wood Bat League. He was also a pitching instructor for the entire league.
Lawson, a Louisville, Kentucky native, is a 2007 graduate of Transylvania University with a degree in Exercise Science. Lawson was a four-year starter for the Pioneers earning All-Conference honors as a junior and senior.
He received his master’s degree in education with an emphasis in strength and conditioning from Lindenwood in 2008.
Lawson and his wife, Amanda, live in Cape Girardeau. They welcomed son, Asa “Ace” Dash, on April 29, 2014.
