Heritage Association Spotlight: Nigel Nootbaar, Baseball
June 27, 2018 | Baseball, Trojan Athletic Fund, Features
The Heritage Association Spotlight was created to profile USC student-athlete alumni who give back to the University.
If Nigel Nootbaar could explain his experience as a USC student-athlete in two words, it would have to be "pretty baller"— "And you can quote me on that", he says. From tee ball to the pros, Nigel's athletic journey is nothing short of "baller".
"I started baseball like most kids" Nigel says. "I think I was 5 or 6 when I started playing in Little League." Nigel also supplemented baseball with hockey, volleyball and soccer; a diverse mix which he credits with his development as a well-rounded athlete growing up in El Segundo.
"El Segundo has a special place in my heart," the former USC Baseball player says of his home town. "There is an endless list of parents, teachers, coaches, friends, and family that helped raise me. The phrase 'it takes a village' is truly how I describe my upbringing."
Two of the most prominent members of that village, however, are Nigel's parents. "They played a huge [role] in my athletic career," he says. "My parents first introduced me to baseball because my dad played when he was younger and my mom played softball, so they both knew the game very well."
In the Nootbaar household, sports were a way of life. "My family always did everything to give us the best opportunity in sports, but at the time, we didn't know any different," he says. "Sports were just part of our lifestyle, it's all we really cared about."
Nigel's father, an athletic trainer, and his mother, a pre-school teacher's AIDE, instilled in Nigel and his siblings the values of effort, respect, and punctuality as well as taking care of one's body via nutrition and training.
"Most important [though]", he says, "was to enjoy what I was doing."
Nigel's discipline as a young athlete paid off at El Segundo High School, where the teen made the Varsity Baseball team as a freshman. "I grew up fast being around the older guys at such an early age. It helped me to mature as a player and as a person."
During his high school career, Nigel was a double-threat taking on the sport of football in the fall, and would go on to be selected as All-State for both sports. However, Nigel's high school athletic career did not go without teenage obstacles.
"The biggest challenge I faced in high school was the fact that I was one of the standout athletes, which naturally attracted more attention to me – but I was pretty shy. On top of that, I had teenage acne which didn't help with my social confidence. Sports was my way of expressing my confidence."
During his Junior year, Nigel played one of his best seasons in baseball as a 9-0 pitcher, with a .98 ERA and .425 hit, and ultimately attracted the attention of the PAC12 community including Oregon, Arizona, and USC. But for Nigel, the opportunity to sign with USC was a no-brainer.
"My grandma and grandpa both attended USC, my brother played baseball at USC, and our family has had season tickets to football games for over 60 years," he says. "What ultimately drew me to USC was the education, football team, baseball history, and well…. Because it's USC. It meant the world to come to such a well-rounded university and make my family proud."
As a USC student-athlete, Nigel found himself "fascinated by all of the aspects of being an elite athlete" and declared as a Human Performance major to study nutrition, biomechanics, anatomy, and the mental side of athletics.
"It wasn't easy to balance school and baseball, but thanks to the academic support that the athletic program provided, I was able to balance the two. They provided an unbelievable academic facility with computers, printers, and tutors to help with certain classes."
Nigel served the Trojans as a pitcher until his junior in 2014 year when he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles. "It was the greatest day of my life," he says. "My dream was to play professionally, so I decided to forego my senior year to play pro."
Nigel would go on to play four seasons in the minor leagues, before making the decision to move on from the game: "I still loved playing, but I realized I had reached my peak and future in baseball didn't look as bright as it used to. I took some time off after the 2017 season to think about what my next move was… after all, the only job I dreamed of was to be a [professional] ballplayer."
Today, Nigel has successfully made the transition from a professional athlete and currently works as a Marketing Representative at an insurance company in Los Angeles.
"[After I retired], my agent said he knew someone in the insurance industry that was looking to hire athletes. I met with my current manager for my first interview and the opportunity was unreal," he recalls. "The position would allow me to keep competing, not sit behind a desk, interact with people every day, and [the] ability to control my own destiny. Despite not knowing a thing about insurance, it was a perfect fit. I am still getting used to the transition of not identifying myself as a pro athlete and not wearing a uniform on a regular basis, but I'm enjoying the new chapter in my life."
As for his time at USC, Nigel looks back on his experience as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "I wouldn't trade it for anything," he says. "Being able to compete with and against the best in the country is something most people can only dream of. The fact that I can say I was a student-athlete at USC is something that can't be topped. "
Nigel is already giving back to the University by supporting the current student-athletes. He's attended a number of networking dinners to educate student-athletes on the transition from sports to the "real world". And, of course, he will never stop going to USC football and baseball games. It's a Nootbaar family tradition that Nigel is happy to carry on.
"The Trojan family is real," he says. "You recognize it a little bit as a student, but after you graduate it becomes very apparent. The support you will have for the rest of your life is something that can't be beat."
Fun Facts
What athletes do you look up to as role models?
"As I got into college, I watched a lot of film on Pedro Martinez to try and imitate him as a pitcher. I looked up to and, still try to, model myself off of Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady. Reading and hearing about Kobe's work ethic – I wanted (and still want) to be like that. With Tom Brady, I see how well he takes care of his body and the prep he does to be the best. These are things that go beyond sports."
Did you ever experience an embarrassing moment as a student-athlete?
"My most embarrassing moment as a student-athlete was when I dove for a ball in front of a sell-out crowd against UCLA and my belt ripped. My pants didn't fit me so I was struggling to keep them on as my teammate went into the clubhouse to get me a new belt."
What is your best memory from your time at USC?
"The best memory I have as a student-athlete was my freshman year when all of the new players had to buzz their heads and run down Frat Row in just our jockstraps."
If you are a member of the USC student-athlete alumni community, or would like more information about the Heritage Association, please click here!
"I started baseball like most kids" Nigel says. "I think I was 5 or 6 when I started playing in Little League." Nigel also supplemented baseball with hockey, volleyball and soccer; a diverse mix which he credits with his development as a well-rounded athlete growing up in El Segundo.
"El Segundo has a special place in my heart," the former USC Baseball player says of his home town. "There is an endless list of parents, teachers, coaches, friends, and family that helped raise me. The phrase 'it takes a village' is truly how I describe my upbringing."
Two of the most prominent members of that village, however, are Nigel's parents. "They played a huge [role] in my athletic career," he says. "My parents first introduced me to baseball because my dad played when he was younger and my mom played softball, so they both knew the game very well."In the Nootbaar household, sports were a way of life. "My family always did everything to give us the best opportunity in sports, but at the time, we didn't know any different," he says. "Sports were just part of our lifestyle, it's all we really cared about."
Nigel's father, an athletic trainer, and his mother, a pre-school teacher's AIDE, instilled in Nigel and his siblings the values of effort, respect, and punctuality as well as taking care of one's body via nutrition and training.
"Most important [though]", he says, "was to enjoy what I was doing."
Nigel's discipline as a young athlete paid off at El Segundo High School, where the teen made the Varsity Baseball team as a freshman. "I grew up fast being around the older guys at such an early age. It helped me to mature as a player and as a person."
During his high school career, Nigel was a double-threat taking on the sport of football in the fall, and would go on to be selected as All-State for both sports. However, Nigel's high school athletic career did not go without teenage obstacles.
"The biggest challenge I faced in high school was the fact that I was one of the standout athletes, which naturally attracted more attention to me – but I was pretty shy. On top of that, I had teenage acne which didn't help with my social confidence. Sports was my way of expressing my confidence."
During his Junior year, Nigel played one of his best seasons in baseball as a 9-0 pitcher, with a .98 ERA and .425 hit, and ultimately attracted the attention of the PAC12 community including Oregon, Arizona, and USC. But for Nigel, the opportunity to sign with USC was a no-brainer.
"My grandma and grandpa both attended USC, my brother played baseball at USC, and our family has had season tickets to football games for over 60 years," he says. "What ultimately drew me to USC was the education, football team, baseball history, and well…. Because it's USC. It meant the world to come to such a well-rounded university and make my family proud."
As a USC student-athlete, Nigel found himself "fascinated by all of the aspects of being an elite athlete" and declared as a Human Performance major to study nutrition, biomechanics, anatomy, and the mental side of athletics.
"It wasn't easy to balance school and baseball, but thanks to the academic support that the athletic program provided, I was able to balance the two. They provided an unbelievable academic facility with computers, printers, and tutors to help with certain classes."
Nigel served the Trojans as a pitcher until his junior in 2014 year when he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles. "It was the greatest day of my life," he says. "My dream was to play professionally, so I decided to forego my senior year to play pro."Nigel would go on to play four seasons in the minor leagues, before making the decision to move on from the game: "I still loved playing, but I realized I had reached my peak and future in baseball didn't look as bright as it used to. I took some time off after the 2017 season to think about what my next move was… after all, the only job I dreamed of was to be a [professional] ballplayer."
Today, Nigel has successfully made the transition from a professional athlete and currently works as a Marketing Representative at an insurance company in Los Angeles.
"[After I retired], my agent said he knew someone in the insurance industry that was looking to hire athletes. I met with my current manager for my first interview and the opportunity was unreal," he recalls. "The position would allow me to keep competing, not sit behind a desk, interact with people every day, and [the] ability to control my own destiny. Despite not knowing a thing about insurance, it was a perfect fit. I am still getting used to the transition of not identifying myself as a pro athlete and not wearing a uniform on a regular basis, but I'm enjoying the new chapter in my life."
As for his time at USC, Nigel looks back on his experience as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "I wouldn't trade it for anything," he says. "Being able to compete with and against the best in the country is something most people can only dream of. The fact that I can say I was a student-athlete at USC is something that can't be topped. "
Nigel is already giving back to the University by supporting the current student-athletes. He's attended a number of networking dinners to educate student-athletes on the transition from sports to the "real world". And, of course, he will never stop going to USC football and baseball games. It's a Nootbaar family tradition that Nigel is happy to carry on.
"The Trojan family is real," he says. "You recognize it a little bit as a student, but after you graduate it becomes very apparent. The support you will have for the rest of your life is something that can't be beat."
Fun Facts
What athletes do you look up to as role models?
"As I got into college, I watched a lot of film on Pedro Martinez to try and imitate him as a pitcher. I looked up to and, still try to, model myself off of Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady. Reading and hearing about Kobe's work ethic – I wanted (and still want) to be like that. With Tom Brady, I see how well he takes care of his body and the prep he does to be the best. These are things that go beyond sports."
Did you ever experience an embarrassing moment as a student-athlete?
"My most embarrassing moment as a student-athlete was when I dove for a ball in front of a sell-out crowd against UCLA and my belt ripped. My pants didn't fit me so I was struggling to keep them on as my teammate went into the clubhouse to get me a new belt."
What is your best memory from your time at USC?
"The best memory I have as a student-athlete was my freshman year when all of the new players had to buzz their heads and run down Frat Row in just our jockstraps."
If you are a member of the USC student-athlete alumni community, or would like more information about the Heritage Association, please click here!
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