I would really like to try my hand at the next level. I have applied at two colleges, three times. I never could convince an athletic director put to his job at stake by hiring a high school coach. It doesn't matter how good you are, they want collegiate experience. I had a year as an assistant coach at Nicholls State University, but I guess 1987 is too far in the past.
I loved coaching high school players -- well not all the time. I remember one night after a terrible performance by the Chargers of O.Perry Walker. I walked in the house miserable. My wife Cheryl (Daniel and Courtney's mom), was waiting to see her husband. I growled at the dog, ignored her welcome home hug and plopped on the couch with a beer, still seething about the loss. She tried to console me about making a living out of training 16, 17, and 18 year old kids. She mentioned how wonderful a job I was doing with them, when their parents couldn't even get them to clean their rooms or put out the garbage. I was having none of this, even though I knew she was right. Then she hit me right between the eyes, "Why don't you quit". QUIT? QUIT? I asked her if she was crazy, "I love coaching." Her response was, "Then act like it." I have acted like it for the rest of my career. I love it.
I will never forget how excited Lori and I were when I went back to coaching after eight years as an assistant recreation director. I came home excited and told her I got my name back. "Coach." She was as excited as I was. She saw the love in my eyes. It was a special moment.
Lori and I have had many special moments connected with my coaching. There was the State 5A Championship Tournament in New Iberia in 2003. We were on the verge of beating Barbe and Wade LeBlanc , a major upset in 2003. The tension was incredible and Lori was feeling it too. She had recently lost her brother Rhett in a car accident, and was calling on him to help out here. "Give me a sign Rhett," and a dragonfly landed on her knee and she freaked out. We won and our whole family now uses dragonflies as a symbol for Rhett. We have dragon flies everywhere. Thanks Rhett, cause Wade LeBlanc was real good.
In my first season at Destrehan, I coached my son Daniel. He helped lead the Wildcats to the State Tournament for the first time in school history (2002). We lost to Jesuit (Jesuit will need its own blog) in the quarter finals. Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the 6th, with two outs, I tried to straight steal home with a freshman (Tyrone Wethers, he turned out to be real good). But he was out. We ended up losing 6-3, but it set my reputation as a gambling, anything-goes coach. Daniel drove in our 1st run in that game and went 2-for-3 on the day. Now he's following his father's footsteps, coaching (football) and loving kids. I even got him to coach baseball one season -- so he was there to see me win my 400th game. That was a special moment.
I couldn't write about coaching without talking about my biggest fan. My daughter Courtney lives and dies with every game I coach. She loves watching my teams, and I just love her. She was a senior at Destrehan in 2004, which just happens to be the best team I ever coached (sorry other 24 teams). This team came into the pre-season nationally ranked at #7. The 1st weekend we go to Catholic High in Baton Rouge and play the #3 team in the country, Nova from Florida. We were so excited. We lost the next day to Catholic and they dog piled on game 3 of the season. We never lost again to for 31 games. Unfortunately we needed to win 34 to win the state championship. It was still awesome, what a year. Courtney was front and center for every game and still is. I love her so much.
My final child Lora Leigh couldn't care less about baseball. She did want me to stay as the coach, because she likes scaring the middle school boys about having to play for her dad. She loves her dad but not baseball. She came to my last game and wore head phones, laid on a blanket and faced away from the field. She is kind of a fan of the concession stand.
My love Lori will miss it the most. I admit that the most perfect place in the world is the 3rd base coaching box. I am never more confident than when I am standing there. It's my perfect world. Lori just likes my swagger on the field and in the stadium. Destrehan baseball belonged to me!
Now it doesn't. DHS baseball does not belong to me anymore. I am having trouble letting it go as it has been a part of me for so long. The progam is in good hands, the players will still work hard. The winning tradition will continue, just without me.
But tonight will be fun, Lori has invited everyone I care about. She will be at my side as I get past this and we will have a wonderful life together. Hopefully at a beach somewhere, thanks Lolo, I love you.
