Judd Loveland enters his ninth year with the North Florida baseball program. He joined the Osprey baseball staff as a full-time assistant coach in 2010 after spending three seasons as a graduate and volunteer assistant. In his current role he serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator, works with team’s catchers and serves as the team’s first base coach.
In his six years as recruiting coordinator, the Ospreys have brought in seven Freshman All-Americans including outfielder Alex Bacon who was a unanimous All-American selection in 2011 and was also named the ASUN Freshman of the Year. Of the seven freshmen, three went on to earn All-America honors later in their careers. Outfielders Drew Weeks and Donnie Dewees were also USA Baseball Golden Spikes semifinalists and highly regarded pro prospects in their junior seasons.
The Ospreys have been successful in getting players to the next level in Loveland's tenure as recruiting coordinator. Eight players have been selected in the MLB First Year Player Draft since 2013 including Dewees who was taken in the second round (47th overall) by the Chicago Cubs, the program’s highest selection in over 20 years. The 2013 season was also a monumental year for North Florida in the draft as three Ospreys were picked. The three selections in one season were the second most in the program's history and tied for the most in the school's D-I era (2006-present).
A former collegiate catcher for the Ospreys, Loveland has tutored two of the best catchers ever at North Florida. In 2016, Keith Skinner was one of three finalists for the Johnny Bench Award, annually awarded to the nation's best catcher by the Wichita Sports Commission. Before becoming a 7th round pick of the New York Yankees, Skinner led the ASUN in hitting and was a unanimous First Team All-Conference selection. In 2013, catcher Corey Bass was selected in the 20th Round by the Philadelphia Phillies after garnering First Team All-ASUN honors.
Loveland served as a student assistant in 2006, before joining the coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
During the 2009-10 seasons, Loveland took an active role in the day-to-day operations of UNF baseball, as well as, directly working with the catching staff. In addition, during the 2010 season he served as recruiting coordinator during the transition from Hall of Fame head coach Dusty Rhodes to present head coach Smoke Laval.
In addition to his work with UNF baseball, Loveland worked as Rick Wilkins’ head assistant from 2005-07 at Diamond Baseball Academy in Jacksonville, at the H.I.T. Baseball Academy from 2008-09, and at the Iron Diamond since 2007. Loveland has also worked as an instructor at C.B.I. in 2008 and 2009.
Loveland has also coached several amateur teams, including the Florida state runner-up Post 88 Legion team in 2005 and the Jacksonville Crushers in 2008. When he was at Diamond, he had a chance to work with several highly-respected hitting instructors, including Rick Wilkins (Chicago Cubs), Theron Todd (Florida Marlins) and former UNF great Brian Fleetwood.
A two-year starting catcher for the Ospreys in 2004 and 2005, Loveland helped lead UNF to an appearance in the 2005 Division II World Series and a national runner-up finish. Prior to UNF, Loveland was a two-year starter at Florida Community College at Jacksonville.
Loveland caught for the Maryland Hurricanes in the Eddie Brooks League in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, he played for the Loudon Rangers in the Valley League.
Loveland also had a chance to show off his musical talent for two years, playing drums for the Dave Matthews Tribute Band, where he toured around the country. His final show with the band was on the campus of UNF for SGA’s Welcome Back Celebration.
Loveland received his associate’s degree from FCCJ in 2003 and his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of North Florida in 2006. In the spring of 2010, he successfully earned his master’s degree in Criminal Justice at UNF.
The Clearwater, Fla. native currently resides in Jacksonville with is his wife Ashley who played softball at UNF. The two recently welcomed their first child in August of 2015, a daughter, Delaney.
