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Spotlight on Former Athlete: Byron Starks , Men’s Basketball 1990-94 & Coach 2007 – 09 12/26/12Spotlight on Former Athlete: Byron Starks , Men’s Basketball 1990-94 & Coach 2007 – 09 12/26/12 Starks translates skills to next generation
By Bruce Brown
Written for Athletic Network
October 16, 2012
There’s an iconic photograph of Byron Starks, taken at the 1990 LHSAA Top 28 Tournament at the Cajundome.
Starks is throwing down a two-handed, reverse dunk, with his head threatening to get caught up in the net’s twine.
The play provided a dramatic exclamation point to a remarkable 42-point, MVP outburst by Starks as he led Grambling High to a second straight Class 1A state title.
It also provided UL Ragin’ Cajun fans a tantalizing look at their future, with Starks part of Marty Fletcher’s 1990 recruiting class.
Starks made his time count with the Cajuns, scoring 1,592 points, averaging 13.1 per game including 17.9 as a senior, hitting 49 percent from the field and 70 percent at the line, dishing out 255 assists and snatching 133 steals.
During his four years, UL was 81-42 with three 20-win seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Starks was the Chevrolet Player of the Game in UL’s 87-83 Regional win over Oklahoma in 1992, still the Cajuns’ last NCAA Tournament win.
It was quite a ride, one that eventually led to his 2011 induction in the UL Athletic Hall of Fame, but the bayou was like a different planet when Starks first arrived from north Louisiana.
“It was like going to a totally different state,” Starks said during an interview in his coach’s office at Lafayette Christian Academy. “North Louisiana was more like Arkansas or Mississippi. This was more metropolized.
“I had enjoyed Southern hospitality and the Cajun culture while playing AAU basketball. The people are friendly and open, with great food. I was hooked after that.
“I only needed one (recruiting) visit. It was a good fit. I’m glad I made the choice.”
Starks joined a team led by senior Kevin Brooks, and so waited his turn for court action, but he was an integral part of success all four years.
“It was an easy fit,” he said. “In high school, we ran a fast-paced, pressing game, so Coach Fletcher’s style was right up my alley. We always looked to create tempo, and he allowed us to shoot the ball.
“We all came from winning programs, so we knew about teamwork and sharing the ball. You knew you’d get your fair share of shots. We had a common goal of winning championships.”
Starks was part of a nucleus that included Eric Mouton, Michael Allen, Tony Moore, Carroll Boudreaux, Marcus Stokes and Shawn Griggs which won the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Biloxi in 1992 and beat OU in the NCAA.
The Cajuns also won the Sun Belt Tournament in 1994 in Bowling Green, Ky., for another NCAA trip.
They were lofty times.
“My freshman year, we had Kevin Brooks and Aaron Mitchell, so I knew I’d be a role player,” Starks said. “When they left, the bulk of the scoring fell on young guys. I had to get stronger and adjust to the pace.
“We started out 1-5, but put Eric at point guard and everybody found what they were good at.”
The team bonded during rare two-a-day practices during the Christmas holidays and built momentum from there.
Starks was ready to contribute. A 24-point outburst at a freshman against Southern Mississippi told him so.
“It was like a light switch came on,” he said. “I figured I had talent. That game gave me confidence.”
The 1991-92 campaign was memorable in many ways.
“I remember the unbelievable season we had,” Starks said. “We were competing against teams with national recognition. It was surreal, but we also expected to be there. We were going against national powers with the same mentality.
“I’ll never forget how blessed I was.”
Memories of the 1994 season are less positive, despite a career-best scoring average and that SBC crown, as Starks struggled against Marquette in the NCAA Tournament.
“I had a terrible game,” he said. “It was the worst game of my senior year. I had just 9 points, hit 3-of-15 shots. My jersey had been stolen, so I wore No. 40 (instead of No. 20), and it bothered me.
“It was still a fulfilling year.”
Starks originally thought he’d be a sports commentator, but has build a successful career in coaching at Northside Christian in Crowley (2003-2008, 2010-2012), UL (2008-2009), Vermilion Catholic (2009-2010) and now at Lafayette Christian.
“I always liked working with young people, and now I have the best of both worlds because I get to coach my own children (BJ, Christon and Caleb with wife Angel),” Starks said. “I get to see them on a daily basis.”
Starks won four district championships and Coach of the Year accolades while building Northside Christian’s program from scratch, and is eager for more success at LCA.
“There were a number of influences on me,” he said. “My high school coach taught me the discipline of the game. Marty Fletcher taught me the transition game. I can still hear him say, ‘Run your lane.’
“I also had the chance to sit down with Beryl Shipley and talk about the game. When I did, I realized there were so many things I did not know. He talked about simplicity, hard work and understanding offense and defense.”
Starks hasn’t found a player who could soar to the basket as he could in his playing days, but there is still much to gain from teaching those on the roster he has.
“When you teach making the layup instead of the dunk, it makes you a better coach,” Starks said. “We keep the fundamentals first and foremost, and we do what we’re good at. I keep it simple. We take the athletes we have and we work hard.
“The administration understands we’re going to make mistakes, but we’re building. I’m excited about our potential growth in the Lafayette area. I also hope to coach again at the Division I (college) level.”
While building his coaching resume’, Starks was happy to make time when the UL Hall of Fame called in 2011.
“It was an honor to be recognized by the Hall of Fame, but I never played for that,” he said. “As a player, you compete and do your best. I played for the competition.
“The Hall of Fame was icing on the cake.”
By Bruce Brown lagolden83@aol.com
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Byron and his 1991-92 teammates are pictured below.
 Byron on the coaching staff of the 2007-08 Men’s Basketball Team. He is on the 2nd row, 4th from the left.
 Please click on www.athleticnetwork.net , Photo Gallery, M Basketball for the photo galleries of Byron’s years at UL, including the reunions and special events.
* * * * * * * * * Our rich athletic traditions were entrusted to the vision, hope, loyalty, and dedication of those former athletes and we will forever owe them a debt of sincere gratitude. May God bless each of them and their families.
Anyone with information, materials, pictures, memorabilia, etc., of the university’s former athletic program participants is requested to contact Ed Dugas at athleticnetwork@louisiana.edu Thank you.
The Photo Gallery Link located on the left side of the home page at www.athleticnetwork.net contains over 12,000 pictures of former and current athletes and support groups. Just click on photo gallery and when the menu appears, click on the sport or support group you wish to view. The years of pictures posted for that team or group will appear and you may click on the year you wish to view. One click on a thumbnail picture or narrative and it is enlarged; a click on the enlarged photo and it reverts back to the thumbnail. The Athletic Network seeks to post pictures of each team and support group for each year they represented the university. The stories of the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 honorees featured in the Spotlight on Former Athletes are still included in the News Page and may be viewed by clicking on "more news" at the bottom right of the News Box, scrolling down, clicking on the title of the story. Those spotlight features which are no longer shown in the News Page, have been moved to the Lagniappe Link of the "History of UL Athletics" located on the left side of the home page. The Spotlight on Former Athletes announcement has also been placed in the profile of each honoree, excluding the pictures. 2012 2011 2010 2009
Ed Dugas served as feature writer. January – Tim Thompson Men’s Basketball 1957-61. February – Gene Bacque Baseball 1956 & 57. March – Dr. Louis Bowers – Tennis 1956-58, Track 1955, Coaches 1964-66. April – Dr. Carter Lomax, Jr. Tennis 1974-76. May – Johnny Morris, Jr. Football 1927-29,Men’s Basketball 1927-30,Track & Field 1928-30, Golf 1927-28, Coaches 1947-49 . June – S.L.I.I. Athletic Pioneers I July – S.L.I.I. Athletic Pioneers II August – 1912 – A Special Year – First L’Acadien September – Glenn Davis Lafleur Football 1966-69 October – Bill Bass – Boxing 1938 & 39, Football 1938-40, Coach 1971-75 & 1983 November – Tom Nolan – Cross Country & Track & Field 1971-76, Coaches 1978-83 December – Military Personnel – Military Page posted 2008 2007 Peace, Ed Dugas
Ed Dugas, Research Coordinator (337)482-0999
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