SCOTT — There were slightly less than 20 applicants interested in becoming the new girls’ basketball coach at Acadiana High and in the end, first-year principal David Lejeune elected to go with a familiar face in Nic Jeffers.

Jeffers, who was recently hired in May as the head girls’ basketball coach at Jennings, returns to Lafayette Parish after spending the past two years as an assistant coach for the UL Ragin’ Cajuns women’s basketball program.

"Nic is a fine individual and besides the fact that he is one of the better young girls basketball coaches in the area, he has a great mix of high school and college experience," Lejeune said of why he chose Jeffers for the position over other candidates. "Not only is he a proven winner, but I felt he was the right person to keep the program at the level that coach (Catherine) Cassidy had it."

Cassidy made the decision to resign her position as the Lady Rams’ head coach in July after being chosen by Lejeune to become the newest assistant principal at Acadiana High.

"Catherine has built this into as good of a program as there is in the state," Jeffers said. "Everything is already in place here for this program. It’s really amazing how every single detail is in place. I feel very comfortable with the coaching staff and the administration and I have always admired the student-athletes that Acadiana High has produced."

Jeffers stated he didn’t expect to leave Jennings, evident by the fact he coached the Lady Bulldogs during league action this past summer.

But felt when the Lady Rams position came open, he owed it to himself and his family to explore the opportunity.

"I was very grateful and excited about the opportunity at Jennings because it’s a storied program with great tradition," Jeffers said. "With Mr. Lejeune at Acadiana as the principal and then I found out that Catherine’s position would be coming open, I knew it was something I wanted to look into. Mr. Lejeune is a mentor of mine and I always said that if I had the opportunity to work with him again that I would explore it."

Jeffers last worked in the parish from 2002-2010 as the head basketball coach of the Comeaux Lady Spartans, whom he built into one of the better programs in the Acadiana area and led them to six consecutive playoff appearances from 2004-10.

"After coaching at the college level, I really feel like I have grown from that experience," Jeffers said. "Coaching on that level, I quickly realize that I didn’t know as much as I thought I knew. I was able to pick up something’s strategy wise that I hope will help me as a coach."

Brumley transfers to Ascension Episcopal

The Lafayette High Lady Lions’ volleyball team suffered a major blow in the offseason as Frances Brumley, who is one of its top two players, has transferred to Ascension Episcopal for her senior season.

Brumley, who attended Ascension Episcopal through eighth grade before attending Lafayette High as a freshman, is coming off an outstanding junior season in which she recorded 66 kills, 596 assists, 80 aces, 157 digs and 15 blocks en route to earning first team All-Acadiana and All-District honors as a setter.

Lafayette High contested Brumley’s ability to be eligible for her senior season if she transferred back to Ascension Episcopal, citing the fact she received private lessons from Lady Gators head coach Jill Braun. But after investigating, the LHSAA ruled in favor of Brumley, which allows her to be eligible this season.

With Brumley in the fold to pair with junior star and fellow All-Acadiana first-team selection Danni Duck, the Lady Gators appear to be a viable contender for the Division V state championship.

Latiolais named new Carencro softball coach

Carencro High’s softball program will be under new leadership this season, after the school hired Lady Bears alumnus Desirée Latiolais as the successor to Mary Eldridge.

Latiolais, who graduated from Carencro in 2008, starred for the Lady Bears both as a starting third baseman and academically with a 4.0 high school GPA.

"It feels so good to come back and coach at my alma mater," Latiolais said. "I always thought about one day coming back to coach at Carencro. I hoped I would have the opportunity to come back, but I didn’t think it would be this soon."

The 22-year-old Latiolais, who will also teach math and serve as an assistant volleyball coach, graduated from UL in four years secondary education with a minor in chemistry.

"I can tell you that I will have a strong emphasis on academics," Latiolais said. "I was a student-athlete in high school and although I played sports I still had a 4.0 GPA. So I know that playing athletics and taking care of things in the classroom can be done."

Carencro football season tickets on sale

Season tickets for the Carencro Bears football season will be available for purchase beginning Wednesday, Aug. 15 in the school cafeteria from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Season ticket holders will have the luxury of sitting in chairback seats opposed to the backless bleachers.

For more information contact Brenda Olivier at (337) 52-7390 ext. 1.

Football, volleyball questionnaires needed

All Acadiana area high school football and volleyball coaches who haven’t returned questionnaires for the upcoming seasons are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.

Football questionnaires are still needed from Ascension Episcopal, Erath, Iota, Kaplan, Lafayette High, North Central, Opelousas, Opelousas Catholic, St. Edmund, Vermilion Catholic and Westgate.

Volleyball questionnaires are still needed from Ascension Episcopal, Beau Chene, Breaux Bridge, Carencro, Catholic High-New Iberia, Cecilia, Church Point, Comeaux, Crowley, Delcambre, ESA, Iota, Lafayette Christian, Lafayette High, New Iberia, North Central, Northside, Northside Christian, Northwest, Notre Dame, Opelousas, Rayne, St. Martinville, St. Thomas More, Teurlings Catholic, West St. Mary, Westgate and Westminster Christian.

All area coaches should email, mail or fax both questionnaires and rosters.

Email options are enarcisse

 

@theadvertiser.com or kfoote

@theadvertiser.com.

The mailing address is 1100 Bertrand Dr., Lafayette, 70506. The fax number is (337) 371-3341 or (337) 289-6443.

Follow prep editor Eric Narcisse on Twitter @tdanarcisse.