Former Football: AES’ Desormeaux earns Coach of the Year Honors

Trey Labat glabat@theadvertiser.com The Advertiser, Jan. 10, 2016

Michael Desormeaux, Ascension Episcopal, coach (Photo: SCOTT CLAUSE, THE ADVERTISER)

Implementing an identity, a tradition into a football team can often be the most difficult thing when starting a program.

It isn’t just about flashy offenses, or rugged defenses; it’s about building something that is replicable from year to year and establishing a foothold among some of the area’s elite teams.

After a few short years at the helm Ascension Episcopal coach Mike Desormeaux has done just that it seems for the Blue Gators.

The current group of seniors who just finished a magical season where they fell just short of playing in the Superdome for the first time in school history went without a win their freshman season.

"They are a special group," Desormeaux said before the Blue Gators game against St. Mary’s. "Everything they’ve gotten they’ve earned."

Desormeaux said throughout the season that the Blue Gators were one of the hardest working groups of football players he’s ever been around.

The former Ragin’ Cajuns quarterback helped the development of senior quarterback Jake Arceneaux who had a career season in his last year on the field for the Blue Gators.

The two developed a bond throughout the last three seasons as Desormeaux watched Arceneaux blossom into a Division I quarterback for his alma mater.

"He’s improved all the way across the board. His game has just gotten so much better as the year has gone on," Desormeaux said. "It’s hard to say (what his best trait is), but I think his leadership just has more value for us than anything else. He’s positive even when things aren’t going great. He’s a coach out there on the field for us."

It was a season of firsts for Ascension Episcopal: reaching the semifinals, sharing a district title and beating 7-1A giant Vermilion Catholic.

And with one of the best coaching staffs in the area, including former Acadiana coach Scott McCullough running the defense, Desormeaux has the Blue Gators set up for success for years to come.

“I would put our coaching staffs work ethic up there with any other team in the state’s,” Desormeaux said. “(McCullough) does a great job every week and I feel like we always have a good game plan. That’s one thing about coach McCullough, you’re not going to outwork him.”