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Post by HSFan318 on Mar 26, 2024 7:57:50 GMT -6
Natchitoches Central names former NSU Head Coach Brad Laird HC
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Post by bluebonnetspearman on Mar 26, 2024 10:32:32 GMT -6
I think it's a good hire, despite the negative I have already seen on social media this morning. Will he be allowed to bring in coaches or will he keep some of the Many holdovers? Will any of the Many holdovers stay? There seems to be a good foundation laid for him already.
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Post by HSFan318 on Mar 26, 2024 10:46:13 GMT -6
I think it's a good hire, despite the negative I have already seen on social media this morning. Will he be allowed to bring in coaches or will he keep some of the Many holdovers? Will any of the Many holdovers stay? There seems to be a good foundation laid for him already. Haven't heard or seen anything about assistants. Definitely keeps the football buzz going around Natchitoches getting a former college coach to lead your program after losing Many's Jess Curtis to Southside.
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Post by bullethole on Mar 26, 2024 11:24:35 GMT -6
From the folks I talk to there was no buzz left around Natchitoches Central football by Christmas. Hopefully Laird's hiring can reignite a spark. At the very least I hope he keeps the Many guys that got abandoned there.
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Post by chalmetteowl on Mar 26, 2024 13:40:13 GMT -6
From the folks I talk to there was no buzz left around Natchitoches Central football by Christmas. Hopefully Laird's hiring can reignite a spark. At the very least I hope he keeps the Many guys that got abandoned there. ?? They didn’t have the best record, but judging by the scores they were very competitive and should have had a lot to be optimistic about… did Jess wear on the kids?
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Post by hasbeen on Mar 26, 2024 13:54:04 GMT -6
Great hire. Dude can coach.
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Post by bullethole on Mar 26, 2024 13:57:49 GMT -6
From the folks I talk to there was no buzz left around Natchitoches Central football by Christmas. Hopefully Laird's hiring can reignite a spark. At the very least I hope he keeps the Many guys that got abandoned there. ?? They didn’t have the best record, but judging by the scores they were very competitive and should have had a lot to be optimistic about… did Jess wear on the kids? If my information is right NC graduates a 1,000 yard running back, a 1,000 yard receiver, an all state offensive guard that is going to start one day at LSU and a really good defensive end that signed with Northwestern, plus several more starters on both sides of the ball. That's a lot of production gone from a school that doesn't exactly crank out a lot of talent. Laird may be walking into a bad situation. As for the season last year I can't answer the question as to what killed the excitement around the new coach but I do know from a couple of friends in Natchitoches that no one at NC was particularly sad to see him go. I feel bad for the Many coaches that moved their families and bought homes thinking that they were coming to Natchitoches to build something long term. They got totally hosed on the deal. They are now in limbo just 15 months later. Hopefully Laird will give each a chance to interview and stay if they want to.
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Post by walkingturtles on Mar 26, 2024 14:07:17 GMT -6
?? They didn’t have the best record, but judging by the scores they were very competitive and should have had a lot to be optimistic about… did Jess wear on the kids? If my information is right NC graduates a 1,000 yard running back, a 1,000 yard receiver, an all state offensive guard that is going to start one day at LSU and a really good defensive end that signed with Northwestern, plus several more starters on both sides of the ball. That's a lot of production gone from a school that doesn't exactly crank out a lot of talent. Laird may be walking into a bad situation. As for the season last year I can't answer the question as to what killed the excitement around the new coach but I do know from a couple of friends in Natchitoches that no one at NC was particularly sad to see him go. I feel bad for the Many coaches that moved their families and bought homes thinking that they were coming to Natchitoches to build something long term. They got totally hosed on the deal. They are now in limbo just 15 months later. Hopefully Laird will give each a chance to interview and stay if they want to. Given their track record, they might not have been sad to see him go, but I don’t know if that speaks to him or them. He’s won titles, say what you want, but NCHS doesn’t have any. They’ve been a bottom feeder in that 5A district. He was very competitive, could have pulled out a few games.
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Post by footballislife on Mar 26, 2024 14:20:37 GMT -6
If my information is right NC graduates a 1,000 yard running back, a 1,000 yard receiver, an all state offensive guard that is going to start one day at LSU and a really good defensive end that signed with Northwestern, plus several more starters on both sides of the ball. That's a lot of production gone from a school that doesn't exactly crank out a lot of talent. Laird may be walking into a bad situation. As for the season last year I can't answer the question as to what killed the excitement around the new coach but I do know from a couple of friends in Natchitoches that no one at NC was particularly sad to see him go. I feel bad for the Many coaches that moved their families and bought homes thinking that they were coming to Natchitoches to build something long term. They got totally hosed on the deal. They are now in limbo just 15 months later. Hopefully Laird will give each a chance to interview and stay if they want to. Given their track record, they might not have been sad to see him go, but I don’t know if that speaks to him or them. He’s won titles, say what you want, but NCHS doesn’t have any. They’ve been a bottom feeder in that 5A district. He was very competitive, could have pulled out a few games. Didn’t they still finish at bottom of district with Southwood? If OL ever starts at LS, then LSU is going through a rough stretch
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Post by bhossmac on Mar 26, 2024 14:43:01 GMT -6
?? They didn’t have the best record, but judging by the scores they were very competitive and should have had a lot to be optimistic about… did Jess wear on the kids? If my information is right NC graduates a 1,000 yard running back, a 1,000 yard receiver, an all state offensive guard that is going to start one day at LSU and a really good defensive end that signed with Northwestern, plus several more starters on both sides of the ball. That's a lot of production gone from a school that doesn't exactly crank out a lot of talent. Laird may be walking into a bad situation. As for the season last year I can't answer the question as to what killed the excitement around the new coach but I do know from a couple of friends in Natchitoches that no one at NC was particularly sad to see him go. I feel bad for the Many coaches that moved their families and bought homes thinking that they were coming to Natchitoches to build something long term. They got totally hosed on the deal. They are now in limbo just 15 months later. Hopefully Laird will give each a chance to interview and stay if they want to. My god, dude. Natchitoches Central is 25 miles from Many High School. Stop acting like the assistants who came with him -- who got hefty pay raises -- relocated from Shreveport to Baton Rouge to coach with him.
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Post by footballislife on Mar 26, 2024 15:32:45 GMT -6
If my information is right NC graduates a 1,000 yard running back, a 1,000 yard receiver, an all state offensive guard that is going to start one day at LSU and a really good defensive end that signed with Northwestern, plus several more starters on both sides of the ball. That's a lot of production gone from a school that doesn't exactly crank out a lot of talent. Laird may be walking into a bad situation. As for the season last year I can't answer the question as to what killed the excitement around the new coach but I do know from a couple of friends in Natchitoches that no one at NC was particularly sad to see him go. I feel bad for the Many coaches that moved their families and bought homes thinking that they were coming to Natchitoches to build something long term. They got totally hosed on the deal. They are now in limbo just 15 months later. Hopefully Laird will give each a chance to interview and stay if they want to. My god, dude. Natchitoches Central is 25 miles from Many High School. Stop acting like the assistants who came with him -- who got hefty pay raises -- relocated from Shreveport to Baton Rouge to coach with him. Most that came with him no longer there. Left after season was over or leaving at end of school year. Do some research might be surprised. Laird will have opportunity to hire a whole new staff. Brad Laird is a heckuva football coach. He is a good man also. Don’t buy into the crap you have read considering the end at NSU. You have only heard one side of the story. Believe me there are 2 sides.
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Post by bullethole on Mar 26, 2024 17:04:11 GMT -6
If my information is right NC graduates a 1,000 yard running back, a 1,000 yard receiver, an all state offensive guard that is going to start one day at LSU and a really good defensive end that signed with Northwestern, plus several more starters on both sides of the ball. That's a lot of production gone from a school that doesn't exactly crank out a lot of talent. Laird may be walking into a bad situation. As for the season last year I can't answer the question as to what killed the excitement around the new coach but I do know from a couple of friends in Natchitoches that no one at NC was particularly sad to see him go. I feel bad for the Many coaches that moved their families and bought homes thinking that they were coming to Natchitoches to build something long term. They got totally hosed on the deal. They are now in limbo just 15 months later. Hopefully Laird will give each a chance to interview and stay if they want to. My god, dude. Natchitoches Central is 25 miles from Many High School. Stop acting like the assistants who came with him -- who got hefty pay raises -- relocated from Shreveport to Baton Rouge to coach with him. Why don’t you uproot your wife and family and move to Oberlin and then find out you may not have a job after 15 months and see how well that goes over, genius. You are such a pompous, self-righteous little know it all who has never accomplished anything and never put yourself out there on the line in any way, yet you love to constantly correct and overrule everyone else simply based on your personal beliefs or your devotion to a particular individual. “ Suckup” is the word that comes to mind.
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Post by bullethole on Mar 26, 2024 17:07:32 GMT -6
My god, dude. Natchitoches Central is 25 miles from Many High School. Stop acting like the assistants who came with him -- who got hefty pay raises -- relocated from Shreveport to Baton Rouge to coach with him. Most that came with him no longer there. Left after season was over or leaving at end of school year. Do some research might be surprised. Laird will have opportunity to hire a whole new staff. Brad Laird is a heckuva football coach. He is a good man also. Don’t buy into the crap you have read considering the end at NSU. You have only heard one side of the story. Believe me there are 2 sides. At least 3 are still there and one just got passed over for the job. Maybe they all leave. Maybe Laird hires them. Either way, they got 💩 on.
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Post by bullethole on Mar 26, 2024 17:10:12 GMT -6
I also think Laird is a great hire and will be a good addition. Solid guy, good coach. I just think he’s maybe walking into a mess he can’t fix.
As for the NSU situation, the AD and President of the school should both be unemployed right now
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Post by bhossmac on Mar 26, 2024 20:31:19 GMT -6
My god, dude. Natchitoches Central is 25 miles from Many High School. Stop acting like the assistants who came with him -- who got hefty pay raises -- relocated from Shreveport to Baton Rouge to coach with him. Why don’t you uproot your wife and family and move to Oberlin and then find out you may not have a job after 15 months and see how well that goes over, genius. You are such a pompous, self-righteous little know it all who has never accomplished anything and never put yourself out there on the line in any way, yet you love to constantly correct and overrule everyone else simply based on your personal beliefs or your devotion to a particular individual. “ Suckup” is the word that comes to mind. Your Oberlin analogy is so stupid and irrelevant that it's not even worth addressing. As for your second paragraph, feel free to think whatever you want about me. I honestly couldn't care less. Some folks love me. Others hate me. That's life.
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Post by clubberlang on Mar 26, 2024 20:34:25 GMT -6
I also think Laird is a great hire and will be a good addition. Solid guy, good coach. I just think he’s maybe walking into a mess he can’t fix. As for the NSU situation, the AD and President of the school should both be unemployed right now
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Post by clubberlang on Mar 26, 2024 20:35:12 GMT -6
I also think Laird is a great hire and will be a good addition. Solid guy, good coach. I just think he’s maybe walking into a mess he can’t fix. As for the NSU situation, the AD and President of the school should both be unemployed right now It’s coming! Wait for it…the president WILL NOT return!
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lefty54
All-District 1st Team
Posts: 236
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Post by lefty54 on Mar 26, 2024 23:06:21 GMT -6
Most that came with him no longer there. Left after season was over or leaving at end of school year. Do some research might be surprised. Laird will have opportunity to hire a whole new staff. Brad Laird is a heckuva football coach. He is a good man also. Don’t buy into the crap you have read considering the end at NSU. You have only heard one side of the story. Believe me there are 2 sides. At least 3 are still there and one just got passed over for the job. Maybe they all leave. Maybe Laird hires them. Either way, they got 💩 on. 3 are still there but one of the 3 had made it known he was leaving right when the season got over. That is Coach Jess’ son Jesse. He is the strength coach and will be a huge loss to that program no matter who comes with Laird to Natchitoches and was going be a huge loss for his dads program had coach Curtis not decided to leave to southside. He was a difference maker while at Many High. The other two coaches from Many are also proven winners as well who will have many opportunities elsewhere should they desire to leave. I’m not sold on Laird as a good football coach. He’s a good guy and I wish him well. He’s a big name but I wouldn’t say he is a big time coach. I think they passed on the better football coach in Hassell because he didn’t have as big of a name but it will probably work out better for Hassell in the long run not getting that job. He will be fine.
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Post by bullethole on Mar 27, 2024 4:03:53 GMT -6
At least 3 are still there and one just got passed over for the job. Maybe they all leave. Maybe Laird hires them. Either way, they got 💩 on. 3 are still there but one of the 3 had made it known he was leaving right when the season got over. That is Coach Jess’ son Jesse. He is the strength coach and will be a huge loss to that program no matter who comes with Laird to Natchitoches and was going be a huge loss for his dads program had coach Curtis not decided to leave to southside. He was a difference maker while at Many High. The other two coaches from Many are also proven winners as well who will have many opportunities elsewhere should they desire to leave. I’m not sold on Laird as a good football coach. He’s a good guy and I wish him well. He’s a big name but I wouldn’t say he is a big time coach. I think they passed on the better football coach in Hassell because he didn’t have as big of a name but it will probably work out better for Hassell in the long run not getting that job. He will be fine. Good post! Thanks for the insight.
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Post by bullethole on Mar 27, 2024 7:18:29 GMT -6
Why don’t you uproot your wife and family and move to Oberlin and then find out you may not have a job after 15 months and see how well that goes over, genius. You are such a pompous, self-righteous little know it all who has never accomplished anything and never put yourself out there on the line in any way, yet you love to constantly correct and overrule everyone else simply based on your personal beliefs or your devotion to a particular individual. “ Suckup” is the word that comes to mind. Your Oberlin analogy is so stupid and irrelevant that it's not even worth addressing. As for your second paragraph, feel free to think whatever you want about me. I honestly couldn't care less. Some folks love me. Others hate me. That's life. Ok, maybe Oberlin is a little too far. Let's say Marksville. Marksville to Alexandria is a pretty close analogy to Many and Natchitoches. Drop everything, buy a new house and move your family to Marksville because of blind devotion to a person and then find out a little over a year later that that person is moving on for personal reasons and giving no heads up at all and leaving you hanging with no guarantee of a job. I'm pretty sure you and your wife would find that a little unsettling.
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Post by walkingturtles on Mar 27, 2024 7:34:36 GMT -6
NCHS is gonna regret not giving the job to Hassle. When Laurd leaves in a year or two, and Hassle is already out the door. I doubt the principal cares, his eyes are only on basketball.
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Post by bhossmac on Mar 27, 2024 7:36:16 GMT -6
Your Oberlin analogy is so stupid and irrelevant that it's not even worth addressing. As for your second paragraph, feel free to think whatever you want about me. I honestly couldn't care less. Some folks love me. Others hate me. That's life. Ok, maybe Oberlin is a little too far. Let's say Marksville. Marksville to Alexandria is a pretty close analogy to Many and Natchitoches. Drop everything, buy a new house and move your family to Marksville because of blind devotion to a person and then find out a little over a year later that that person is moving on for personal reasons and giving no heads up at all and leaving you hanging with no guarantee of a job. I'm pretty sure you and your wife would find that a little unsettling. That's the thing. There are a lot of coaches who move around. It can be a pretty volatile job. There are folks who live in Rapides Parish and work at Marksville. There are people who live in Avoyelles Parish and work in Alexandria. It's only 30 minutes away, just like Many to Natchitoches. They didn't move unless they wanted to. If I were following Jess from Many to Natchitoches, I wouldn't be buying a new house unless I wanted to move and plant roots in Natchitoches.
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Post by bhossmac on Mar 27, 2024 7:42:53 GMT -6
NCHS is gonna regret not giving the job to Hassle. When Laurd leaves in a year or two, and Hassle is already out the door. I doubt the principal cares, his eyes are only on basketball. Why is Laird leaving in a year or two? He has spent most of his adult life in Natchitoches. Over the past two decades, he's been in Natchitoches for all but five years (one year as an assistant at SFA and four years as Ruston's coach). He played at Northwestern and coached or worked for the university for 15 years there. Natchitoches is his home. His kids were raised there. Just because Brock is graduating next year doesn't mean Laird will be looking to get out of town. It's also a weird take to say Micah Coleman only cares about basketball when his last two football hires were Jess Curtis and Brad Laird. Those are two strong hires for any school.
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Post by bullethole on Mar 27, 2024 8:02:46 GMT -6
Ok, maybe Oberlin is a little too far. Let's say Marksville. Marksville to Alexandria is a pretty close analogy to Many and Natchitoches. Drop everything, buy a new house and move your family to Marksville because of blind devotion to a person and then find out a little over a year later that that person is moving on for personal reasons and giving no heads up at all and leaving you hanging with no guarantee of a job. I'm pretty sure you and your wife would find that a little unsettling. That's the thing. There are a lot of coaches who move around. It can be a pretty volatile job. There are folks who live in Rapides Parish and work at Marksville. There are people who live in Avoyelles Parish and work in Alexandria. It's only 30 minutes away, just like Many to Natchitoches. They didn't move unless they wanted to. If I were following Jess from Many to Natchitoches, I wouldn't be buying a new house unless I wanted to move and plant roots in Natchitoches. You would if you got convinced and guaranteed that this was going to be a long term rebuilding process that was going to make superstars out of the whole staff (especially the star of the show). These guys uprooted and moved thinking they were about to be part of something huge and it was going to make all of them highly in-demand coaches for years to come. Now they may not even have a job. Of course all of them should have known as soon as the whole West Monroe thing happened that they had been conned and the future wasn't bright.
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Post by bullethole on Mar 27, 2024 8:09:36 GMT -6
NCHS is gonna regret not giving the job to Hassle. When Laurd leaves in a year or two, and Hassle is already out the door. I doubt the principal cares, his eyes are only on basketball. Why is Laird leaving in a year or two? He has spent most of his adult life in Natchitoches. Over the past two decades, he's been in Natchitoches for all but five years (one year as an assistant at SFA and four years as Ruston's coach). He played at Northwestern and coached or worked for the university for 15 years there. Natchitoches is his own. His kids were raised there. Just because Brock is graduating next year doesn't mean Laird will be looking to get out of town. It's also a weird take to say Micah Coleman only cares about basketball when his last two football hires were Jess Curtis and Brad Laird. Those are two strong hires for any school. For once I'll agree with you. It's been mentioned on here before that Natchitoches Central baseball and softball are really taking off. Their baseball team has been #1 in power ratings most of the season and their softball team will probably win their district. Their boys basketball is state runner-up. Their girls basketball is always competitive. I don't think there's anyone at the school trying to hold football down. I honestly think legitimate efforts and a lot of money have been thrown at the football problem. It just hasn't been fixed. Is Laird the long term solution? We will see. I think he is comfortable in Natchitoches also and I think he took a bullet last Fall to save the AD and the President, based on what I've been told by folks with close ties to NSU. I don't see him leaving Natchitoches soon. I think it's a good job and honestly may pay more than he was making at NSU. I wish him good luck.
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Post by bluebonnetspearman on Mar 27, 2024 11:33:11 GMT -6
If there was a good foundation put in place by the now fractured Curtis staff I think Laird could walk in and make things work. Especially if he keeps a couple of the well liked current coaches. I'm pretty certain he will not be looking for all the attention and spotlight like the previous head coach and will just focus on building the program for the long haul instead of just taking the job for a big splash. Judging by the scores last year the Chiefs were pretty competitive and had opportunities to win 3 or 4 more games. I have no idea if they have enough coming back to continue that. Whether or not the last 3 months of coaching departures and rumors and speculation has killed all their progress and momentum remains to be seen. Laird has 2 months to get his program in place going into summer workouts. I think it was a really good hire and it was done quickly to allow Laird to come in and fix things before its too late. I think it's going to be a home run down the road.
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Post by bhossmac on Mar 27, 2024 13:24:46 GMT -6
If there was a good foundation put in place by the now fractured Curtis staff I think Laird could walk in and make things work. Especially if he keeps a couple of the well liked current coaches. I'm pretty certain he will not be looking for all the attention and spotlight like the previous head coach and will just focus on building the program for the long haul instead of just taking the job for a big splash. Judging by the scores last year the Chiefs were pretty competitive and had opportunities to win 3 or 4 more games. I have no idea if they have enough coming back to continue that. Whether or not the last 3 months of coaching departures and rumors and speculation has killed all their progress and momentum remains to be seen. Laird has 2 months to get his program in place going into summer workouts. I think it was a really good hire and it was done quickly to allow Laird to come in and fix things before its too late. I think it's going to be a home run down the road. The most important question, IMO, will be if Owen Smith stays at NCHS. He threw for 2,350 yards with a 22-8 TD-INT ratio as a sopre. NCHS always has skill athletes. I'm sure 2024 will be no different. The starting tailback was a senior, as was the leading receiver. Dillon Braxton returns after catching 36 passes for 592 yards and 3 TDs. If Smith returns, that gives you an experienced QB to build around over the next two years. He transferred from Calvary Baptist, and the rumor was that he drove in from Shreveport with an assistant (we all know rumors are rumors; the only fact I know is the LHSAA cleared him to play at NCHS). Laird's first order of business should be convincing Smith to stay.
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Post by bullethole on Mar 27, 2024 15:07:39 GMT -6
I don’t think there’s any doubt that there are some lingering questions about how Smith ended up at NC and how Smith got to NC every day and how the LHSAA managed to clear him. Even more so now that the OC is gone.
His talent is very evident. He will start anywhere he goes EXCEPT Calvary or Evangel.
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Post by coachtanklo on Mar 28, 2024 12:26:34 GMT -6
Why is Laird leaving in a year or two? He has spent most of his adult life in Natchitoches. Over the past two decades, he's been in Natchitoches for all but five years (one year as an assistant at SFA and four years as Ruston's coach). He played at Northwestern and coached or worked for the university for 15 years there. Natchitoches is his own. His kids were raised there. Just because Brock is graduating next year doesn't mean Laird will be looking to get out of town. It's also a weird take to say Micah Coleman only cares about basketball when his last two football hires were Jess Curtis and Brad Laird. Those are two strong hires for any school. For once I'll agree with you. It's been mentioned on here before that Natchitoches Central baseball and softball are really taking off. Their baseball team has been #1 in power ratings most of the season and their softball team will probably win their district. Their boys basketball is state runner-up. Their girls basketball is always competitive. I don't think there's anyone at the school trying to hold football down. I honestly think legitimate efforts and a lot of money have been thrown at the football problem. It just hasn't been fixed. Is Laird the long term solution? We will see. I think he is comfortable in Natchitoches also and I think he took a bullet last Fall to save the AD and the President, based on what I've been told by folks with close ties to NSU. I don't see him leaving Natchitoches soon. I think it's a good job and honestly may pay more than he was making at NSU. I wish him good luck. How much money do you think high school football coaches make ? I
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Post by bullethole on Mar 28, 2024 14:54:34 GMT -6
I know enough about Natchitoches to know two things:
NSU pays their coaches peanuts compared to everyone else in their conference.
Natchitoches Parish coaches get paid VERY well. Particularly head coaches. Particularly the head football coach.
When Boone went to Lakeview from Avoyelles he very likely got a $30,000 raise. Same with Curtis going to Central from Many.
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