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People SearchFind an individual who either played a sport or was a member of a support group. Search by last name by clicking on the first letter of the person's last name.
Ms. Catherine Cassidy
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Home Phone: -- Catherine Cassidy – For Love of the Game By Bruce Brown Written for the Athletic Network Born into a large, active, athletic family, it was natural for Catherine Cassidy to pursue sports, and logical that her height pointed her toward basketball. Just as logical has been her progression from athlete to coach, then from coach to administrator. And the timing of the move from coaching to administration – prompted by the adoption of daughter Gracie – brought Cassidy full circle with her initial love of family. “I was one of eight children, and the sixth girl in the family,†Cassidy said of her childhood in Jennings. “All of those ahead of me were into sports, so it wasn’t a question of what I would want to do. It was destiny. “My older siblings and cousins were who I would play with. They were my buddies. We were all pretty tall. At the end of my freshman year in high school, I was as tall as I am now. “I was not a post player, though. I was more a finesse type. I was in the gym from a very young age. I had real good instincts and anticipation, and I had good leadership qualities.†Jennings coach Danny Miller guided JHS to a state title in 1988, with Cassidy’s sister Amy among the standouts, then won again in 1989, Catherine’s freshman season. Miller coached another year before moving on, and Cassidy became a leader for coach Shawn McNilley. “I think that’s when I started to become a coach,†Cassidy said. “I think some athletes naturally have leadership qualities. “Now that I’m older, I see how his (Miller’s) overall outlook on discipline modeled me as a player, coach and now as an administrator. He definitely had a lasting effect mentoring me.†Miller’s relationship went even deeper for the Cassidy clan. “My dad died in 1981, when I was 7,†Cassidy said, “and coach Miller was there for the family.†Their paths would cross again later. Academically gifted, Cassidy attended UL (then USL) on an academic scholarship. But basketball still tugged at her heartstrings, so she walked on with the Ragin’ Cajun women’s program coached by Dwayne Searle. “Strength and speed were my limitations, but he would find a way to put me in games to reward me for my hard work in practice,†Cassidy said. “He was a very fair guy. Everyone was treated equally. “He demanded a lot in practice, and the college game is so business-like. He gave me the opportunity to pursue the game, to fill that empty hole.†That re-discovery also helped to re-direct Cassidy’s career path. “I had thought about becoming a physical therapist, then was majoring in elementary education and had a year left to go,†she said. “Then I changed my major to secondary education, and that added a year. “I don’t know why I fought it so hard. At the time, there were not a lot of female role models in coaching.†Cassidy’s first job was at the Academy of Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, where she had a roster of just 8 players and threw herself into practice just to have 5-on-4 drills. “It was a huge learning experience for me,†Cassidy said. “The next year I regrouped with coach Miller as his assistant coach at Iota in 1999-2000. It was interesting to hear things from him as a coach instead of a player. I tried to soak up as much as I could. “The same principles were there. I found that he had softened a little bit, but fine-tuned in other areas. We still made the playoffs.†It was time for Cassidy to run her own program, so she took over at Acadiana – where Searle was coaching the Wrecking Rams boys team in another career twist of fate. “Acadiana has had three players go to the WNBA – Kim Perrot, Sheri Sam and Detrina White – and I didn’t get the chance to coach any of them,†Cassidy said. “The year before I got here, they won 6 games. Discipline was not at the forefront. It was extremely enticing. It was fun to build the program back up. We doubled the number of wins my first year.†The 2005-2006 Lady Rams were ranked No. 4 in the state and lost in overtime to West Monroe in the playoffs. “That was probably my most talented team,†Cassidy said. “Our leading scorer – Whitley Wiltz – tore her ACL. Whitley, Shannon Davis and Vanity Ledet all signed to play in college. “It was absolutely fulfilling. I was blessed with parents who let me coach. If I laid into a kid, I didn’t get phone calls. They let me do my job. “I thought it would all be about basketball, but with the kids we have there was so much more mentoring involved, to get them to put out effort. It’s been great, too, because the kids all want to come back and visit.†But Cassidy, who worked straight through to a master’s degree and then added administration certification later, was on the verge of a major change of direction. She adopted her daughter, Gracie, who is now 9, in 2006, and that eventually prompted her exit from coaching. “From the time I was probably her age, and I would go to the playground, and any parent would want relief, I would be there to look after their child,†Cassidy said. “I guess I always had that motherly instinct. From a young age I felt I would want to adopt a child. “When the time came, I was drawn to Guatemala. They have such beautiful children. I researched it for a year, then in 2005 I got an email saying I’d gotten the referral. They sent a picture of Gracie at 9 days old.†The euphoric Cassidy was preparing for a road game at Sulphur when she got the good word, and AHS lost the contest. “We lost, but I said it’s OK, I’m getting a child,†Cassidy said. “When I got her the following year – she came home in August – the athletes all embraced her.†That bliss was interrupted in December 2009 when Cassidy had an auto accident on the way to a practice. She also suffered “a couple of major strokes†soon afterward. “I could hardly talk or walk, but I never counted myself down and out,†Cassidy said. “I have a strong will – some would say a hard head – and I knew I was going to regroup. I went right back to work after surgery and finished out the season.†Juggling single parenthood and coaching became difficult, though, so two years ago Cassidy became an assistant principal at Acadiana. “I can cook more now, and when I’m home I’m not exhausted,†Cassidy said. “I have weekends and holidays with Gracie, and I’m able to coach her teams.†Administration has its own challenges, but Cassidy is adapting well and welcomes the next phase of her life. “(In administration), it’s all in real time, with spur of the moment decisions,†Cassidy said. “With coaching, it lingers. “I’ve enjoyed forming relationships and gaining the trust of teachers and students. We have four coaches on our administrative team, and one from the military, so we all understand teamwork.†Cassidy should know. She’s been part of a team her entire life. * * * * * * * * * * Click here to view the Athletic Network Profile of Catherine. Click here to view the video after a serious accident which signigicantly impacted her life. * * * * * * * * * * 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 previous honorees featured in the Spotlight on Former Athletes have been moved from the News Page to the Archived News Page. Please click on the title of any current news story, then the Archived News link in the upper left to go to the Archived News Calendar. The Spotlight on Former Athletes announcement has also been placed in the profile of each honoree, excluding the pictures. 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Ed Dugas, Research Coordinator * * * * * * * * * * Former Women’s Basketball: Cassidy steps down as coach of Lady Rams Eric Narcisse, Daily Advertiser, July 25, 2012 SCOTT — Catherine Cassidy has always loved athletics and there isn’t a sport she has loved more than the game of basketball.
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