Miguel Vega is back at TJC, trading jerseys for clipboards and making plays from the sidelines as the Apache’s newest assistant baseball coach helping athletes who are currently in the same position he was a little over a year ago. 

“Everything they’re going through, good or bad, I dealt with this the same time last year, like I can talk them through that type of stuff,” Vega said.

Miguel, also known as “Miggy,” began his career at TJC as a player on the field. As a Tyler native, he always had his eye on playing for the Apache baseball team.

“I grew up watching TJC; it’s just always been a part of the baseball around here,” Vega said. “So, it was an easy choice like, once I graduated high school, I kind of knew the entire time I was coming here.” 

Being a collegiate student-athlete may seem like a dream come true, but it has multiple challenges that come along with that title. The athletes must have good support systems to motivate them to keep pushing and continuing to be their best. Vega explains that for him his grandpa has been the greatest influence in his life. 

“My grandpa, he went to every practice and coached me until I was 10 or 11. And then even after that went to every practice, every game in college, same thing, never missed a game,” Vega said. “When I went to Louisiana, he would drive five hours just for one game, then drive back. He is definitely the biggest influence, you know, he’s always been there.”

School took the back seat for Vega while in high school but when starting TJC he knew  he would have to spend more time focusing on his studies. 

“It took me my first semester to figure out the timing and everything and the amount of time I had to get all my stuff done. But after the first semester, I kind of got the hang of it, it was pretty easy,” Vega said.

Even though school took up a major part of Vega’s time in college, no one would’ve been able to tell based on the accolades he acquired on the baseball field. While “Miggy” was playing at TJC, he was named NJCAA Player of the Year, American Baseball Coaches Association Player of the Year, MVP of the NJCAA D-III World Series Tournament, and still holds the record for home runs hit at TJC thus far. After TJC, his success continued when he transferred to Northwestern State University to continue his baseball career and his education. He then finished his schooling and baseball career at Louisiana State University, Shreveport where he was named first-team all-conference. 

In an article from the Tyler Morning Telegraph, the head coach at TJC, Doug Wren, said, “We’ll remember what he did this postseason for many years to come. Most definitely deserving of this award.”

Vega has not only left an impact on the baseball team’s history at TJC, but he has also impacted the players and fellow coaches along the way. The Apache’s student assistant, Austin Huml, views Vega as a role model.

“He’s very knowledgeable. He knows the game of baseball and played for a long time. He played at a very high level. So, he’s great to just try to pick apart I ask him probably too many questions,” Huml said. “I’ve never seen him have a bad day or just be negative or anything. So that obviously pushes me and everybody else to do their best. I strive to be like that. Just to have his positive vibes at all times and just push others to do their best.”

Sometimes it can be challenging for athletes to transition from being a player on the field to being on the sidelines, but Vega found it to be an easy transition.

“I just got done playing last year and this is all I’ve done my entire life. So I know what it means to be a part of a team and how teams operate. So it was a pretty easy transition,” Vega said.

As a coach for a college baseball team, it requires many hours of work and travel. It is important for Vega to stay motivated for the athletes and his fellow coaches. For “Miggy” the only motivation he needs is to see the guys on the team and get to spend time with them.

“It’s being a part of a team. You spend your whole year with those guys you’re with them every single day. It’s like you look forward to going out there and just hanging out with the boys. You know it’s one of those things that they become family you see them more than your real family so just getting to see them every day is awesome,” Vega said.

Vega has accomplished many things on and off of the baseball field and this is only the beginning.

“Feathers up, and go Apaches,” Vega said.