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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.
Mr. Rick Lebato
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Home Phone: -- Basketball: LeBato officially resigns July 07, 2006 – Eric Narcisse Once former Northside Vikings boys basketball coach Rick LeBato became a member of the UL Ragin’ Cajun basketball staff, Lafayette Parish Athletic Director James Simmons began waiting for a letter of resignation. “It’s always hard to lose a good person,” Simmons said, “but there are some good people out there. We just have to find them.” Since it’s such a high profile job, Simmons doesn’t expect to have a shortage of candidates. Simmons doesn’t expect quality to be sacrificed. “That never crosses my mind,” Simmons said. “Things always have a way of working themselves out. If we have 15 or so candidates, someone in that 15 will stand out.” The expectations for the new coach are high as the defending 4A champions. “We are looking for someone who will continue the success of the program and (maybe) make it even better,” Simmons said. “We want someone who is a good role model, who has the best interest of the kids in mind and who will be totally committed.” Simmons said resumes will be accepted through Friday, July 14. Interviews begin on July 18. “If someone wants to apply for the job, they’ll do it within a week,” Simmons said. “They don’t need two weeks to determine if they want to apply or not. We should have a new coach by the end of July, unless we are not satisfied with any of them.” Hopefully that won’t happen.” Efforts to reach Northside’s principal Carlton Handy were unsuccessful. Originally published July 7, 2006 Basketball: LeBato heads to Cajuns June 20, 2006 – Eric Narcisse After weeks of speculation, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns officially announced on Monday their plans to hire Northside High boys basketball coach Rick LeBato as an assistant to coach Robert Lee. “He brings an added dimension to our staff,” Lee said. “Rick is someone’s career that I have followed closely when I was at Opelousas High and since I’ve been at UL. He brings a lot of different things to our program – on the floor – recruiting – and in the community.” LeBato, who has yet to turn in a letter of resignation to the Lafayette Parish School Board, will replace former Cajuns assistant coach Jason Kennemer, who resigned and is now the assistant director of UL’s recreation sports department effective July 1. “I’m very fortunate to get this opportunity, because I thought that I would have to move away to Texas or something to get back on the college level. But I’m glad that I can stay in Louisiana.” Aside from wanting to get back on the college level, LeBato said working with fellow assistants Rennie Bailey and Johnny Simmons provided him with the perfect chance. “After visiting with those guys, I understand the direction they would like to take the program and I like it,” LeBato said. “I like all the things that coach Lee is looking to do for the future and I like the guys that he has brought in. I’m glad that coach Lee is giving me this opportunity.” In the past seven years as the Vikings’ head coach, LeBato helped the program reach national recognition and this past season guided the team to the school’s first state championship by defeating Ouachita 67-54 in the Class 4A finals. “It’s sad to see him go,” said Vikings senior to be Ryan Mallory. “He was a good coach and he worked us really hard. He picked up the program and made a name for us. He’s going to be tremendously missed, but I wish him luck at UL.” LeBato, who is a UL alumnus and will be reunited with Cajuns signee Randell Daigle, didn’t give a definitive answer when asked whether or not he would’ve made the jump to the college ranks had the Vikings not won the state championship. “Sometimes things get old, but we have a good group coming in,” he said of the Vikings’ returning players and incoming freshmen. “But it’s a new group, but I could’ve tried again. It would have been hard, but it would’ve been fun.” In his time with the program, LeBato built relationships with not only his players but their families as well. “I stayed longer at Northside than I have any other place that I’ve been,” said LeBato, who served as head coach at Grand Lake and Sulphur. “I enjoyed my stay at Northside. I enjoyed all the community support I received. They have been good to me.” Lee said he tabbed LeBato as his first option as an assistant immediately after he learned a position could become open. “He was the guy that I really wanted since it began to look like we were going to have a position open,” Lee said. “He has college experience and a lot of ties throughout the state of Louisiana and in Texas. He is going to be a tremendous asset to our program and he will only help bring the program where we want it to be.” Originally published June 20, 2006 Basketball: Northside coach: Stepping to next level May 23, 2006 – Bruce Brown Northside High basketball coach Rick LeBato made history on March 11, leading the Vikings to the first state championship in their roundball history. It’s now possible LeBato could be on the sidelines again in the Cajundome sooner than the next Top 28, as an assistant coach for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. Local television and radio reports have LeBato in line for a job on the staff of coach Robert Lee, although the NHS mentor would neither confirm nor deny that development. Asked when he would be able to comment, LeBato said, “I have no idea.” Northside High principal Carlton Handy expressed support for LeBato’s potential move. “Coach LeBato has kept me informed every step of the way,” Handy said. “During the season, we talked and he said he was getting calls, getting offers. He said that after the season he would probably listen. “He told me about a couple of interviews he had. I support him. He deserves it. He’s done a great job for us at Northside.” So great, in fact, that Handy has been flooded with calls from coaches interested in the position, should it become open. “They’ve been calling from all over the place,” Handy said. “We will do like Comeaux did (when Jerry Lane vacated that basketball post). We’ll post it as soon as it becomes official.” “I haven’t received anything on paper,” Lafayette Parish Schools Athletic Director James Simmons told The Advertiser on Monday. “I spoke with coach LeBato and he mentioned to me that he might be leaving, but I haven’t received anything officially. I haven’t received a resignation letter from LeBato as of today. “The first thing he has to do is make sure that he does have a job, because I wouldn’t quit a job until I knew that I had one. Then write a simple letter of resignation, but if I was him I wouldn’t resign until everything was finalized. “But since I still haven’t received a letter of resignation from him, in my opinion he is still working at Northside High as the head boys basketball coach.” UL’s current staff of Lee, Rennie Bailey, Jason Kennemer and Johnny Simmons led the Cajuns to the Sun Belt Conference semifinals in 2005-2006. LeBato did say that reports were unfounded that star center and University of Kentucky signee Perry Stevenson would not be able to attend UK because of academic shortcomings. One scenario painted a picture of Stevenson not attending Kentucky, possibly sitting out a year and then joining Lebato at UL. NHS’s Randell Daigle signed with the Cajuns this spring. “Perry is fine,” LeBato said. “He’s graduating. That’s just a rumor. He’s got good grades. That’s one reason he was so highly recruited. “In fact, he’s leaving June 5 (to attend Kentucky).” A Kentucky official supported LeBato’s assessment. “I’ve checked with our people, and there doesn’t appear to be any reason to not expect Perry to show up for summer school in June,” UK sports information spokesman Scott Stricklin told The Advertiser on Monday. “We anticipate that he will be here, and everything seems to be in order.” Originally published May 23, 2006
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