Baker, Tara hire new football coaches
Two East Baton Rouge Parish high schools have hired head football coaches, while a third now finds itself in the market for a head football coach.
Baker High hired former Istrouma and Scotlandville coach Richard Oliver, while assistant coach Mitch McGrew is stepping into the head football job at Tara High.
Also, Jason Wilkins has left Belaire High to become an assistant baseball coach at Denham Springs High.
“When I heard about the (Baker) job being open, there was no doubt that I was going to apply for it,” Oliver said. “My family didn’t move with me last year, so I’m glad to be back in Baton Rouge.
“I’ve been busy today meeting people and looking around the school. I’m excited because I think Baker is looking to do some good things facility wise and otherwise to help us be successful. The thing I need to do is work on getting our participation numbers up.”
Oliver spent the 2011 season as head coach at Ferriday. He led Class 2A FHS to a 5-6 record, including a first-round playoff loss to University High. The Baker School Board approved Oliver’s hiring at its Tuesday meeting.
The 40-year-old Oliver spent three years as head coach at his alma mater, Istrouma, and two-plus years at Scotlandville. He compiled a record of 32-23 at the two schools.
Oliver, who also had assistant coaching stints at Istrouma and Zachary, succeeds Robert Raines, who resigned after leading the Class 3A Buffaloes to a 3-7 record in each of the last two years. Oliver will also serve as the school’s athletic director, based on a May 13 vote of the Baker School Board, which took those duties away from Gary Mitchell and assigned them to the head football coach.
McGrew, a former Baker High athlete, gets his first opportunity to be a head football coach at Tara. McGrew has been Tara’s head baseball coach and defensive coordinator in football for four seasons.
“I’d like to thank Mrs. Luanne (Estess, principal) and our administration for having the confidence and faith to hire me,” McGrew said. “Obviously, I’ve got some big shoes to fill and there’s a lot to do.
“One of the things we’re going to focus on is succeeding both academically and athletically. During the spring we sat down with each player we had and put together an academic plan. We’re also going to have a study hall period.”
McGrew, 47, succeeds Ron LeJeune, who resigned after four seasons to become an assistant coach at Plaquemine High. The Class 4A Trojans were 4-6 last season. McGrew begins his 21st year of coaching and has previously coach at St. John-Plaquemine, Baker and Central, Lakeland, Fla.
Both Oliver and McGrew are looking to add to their respective coaching staffs. McGrew urges coaches who are part of the EBR pool of teachers seeking jobs to contact him.
The 37-year-old Wilkins leaves Belaire after spending 13 years at the school. He was an assistant coach for 12 seasons and served as head football coach for the 2011 season, leading the Class 4A Bengals to a 2-7 record.
A former college baseball player at Louisiana Tech, Wilkins said the move to Denham Springs gives him a chance to return to baseball duties. He is the second assistant baseball coach DSHS has hired in recent weeks, joining former Central High standout and False River Academy coach Kade Keowen.
“It’s hard to leave a place you’ve been connected to for so long,” Wilkins said. “I’m looking forward to getting back into baseball. That’s something I’ve missed.”
Northside hires Faulk
Former LSU linebacker Trev Faulk was introduced as the new head football coach at Northside High-Lafayette during a news conference held Wednesday, according to The (Lafayette) Advertiser.
The ex-Lafayette High standout led Vermilion Catholic to the Class 1A semifinals and a 13-1 record last fall. The Abbeville-based school had won just nine games in the previous three seasons before 2011.
Faulk also served as an assistant at Northside before taking the VCHS job. He worked under former NHS coach Vincent DeRouen, who was told earlier this month that he would not be retained as the school goes through a reorganization.
Also hired was former Donaldsonville High track coach Trent Ellis, who will serve as Northside’s athletic director and head track coach.