Former Women’s Basketball Coach: Coach Searle leads AHS resurgence + All-Acadiana Coach of the Year

Bruce Brown, Daily Advertiser, April 22, 2012

SCOTT — It’s a long way from the bottom to the top, and it’s been a long time between titles for Acadiana’s Wreckin’ Rams, but coach Dwayne Searle pushed the right buttons to turn his program around in 2011-12.

One year after finishing 14-18 overall and 0-8 in district play, the Rams rolled to the District 3-5A title with a 9-3 record en route to a 22-8 finish.

That nine-game improvement earned Searle Advertiser All-Acadiana Coach of the Year honors for 2012.

"Going in to the season, I thought we had a chance to be good," said Searle, who has guided AHS fortunes for 7 seasons. "We had a lot of question marks, scoring-wise, and we only had one senior coming back. We knew we would have to depend a lot on younger guys.

"But you could tell early that the kids bought in to what we were doing on defense. We knew we would have to keep the pressure up in order to have a chance to compete.

"I knew we would be small, and that rebounding would be a problem, so we were going to use a lot of full court pressure."

Lone senior Dennis Angelle provided the spark for the young Rams, who developed an unselfish approach featuring Angelle, DeEdward Cormier, Anthony Antoine and Diante Noel.

"At times, chemistry is hard to find," Searle said. "Dennis and Diante were our leaders and we learned to play together. It doesn’t always work perfectly, but we went 22-8 and never lost two games in a row. We were able to get back on the right track.

"We got our football guys (DeEdward Cormier, twin brother Edward Cormier, freshman inside force Keithon Mouton) earlier than usual," Searle said. "That gave me more options and a lot more depth.

"During the season, we made progress at things we were weak at, and that’s’ what you need as a team to be successful."

Acadiana swept two games with rival Lafayette High, which also posted a 9-3 record as the 3-5A runner-up, and both schools finished a game ahead of Comeaux in a spirited league chase.

"I had given the edge to Comeaux before the season, then I thought it would come down to us and Lafayette High," Searle said. "The district was so tough that anyone could beat you on a given night if you didn’t play well.

"It helped to prepare us for the playoffs, and hopefully it will help us next year, so that in late-game situations we’ll know what to do and won’t panic. Once we got over the hump, we were able to win games in a lot of ways.

"We finished games better, and obviously that made a difference."

The Rams held off Southwood 53-50 at home to open the playoffs, then were eliminated 77-54 in the regionals by a Natchitoches Central team that reached the semifinals.

It was a disappointing ending, but markedly better than many had predicted when the season began.

Searle, who had earlier coaching stops at Midland (girls), UL (women) and Lafayette High (boys), said his coaching philosophy has remained similar through the years.

"It’s basically the same system," he said. "It’s not complicated. You adjust to the kids you have. I rely on playing solid man-to-man defense, putting as much pressure as possible on your opponent. I like to be patient on offense, have good shot selection and get everyone involved."

The Rams made that system work for a rare title.

"I think Bobby (Beene) won in his second-to-last year here," Searle said. "This was maybe the second time in 25 years Acadiana has won it. It was kind of unexpected. You have to be a little lucky, but the kids came around and played well.

"We’re already talking about next year. It was a satisfying year."

Athletic Network Footnote:

Congratulations to Coach Dwayne Searle.

Please click here for Dwayne Searle’s AN profile.

Click  www.athleticnetwork.net  , Photo Gallery, Women’s Basketball,  any of the 1990-96 years for pictures of him and his UL women’s teams.