By Malcolm Butler
Stability. Continuity. Direction.
These are all things that Cedar Creek School and the hiring committee conducting interviews for the next head football coach must be focused on when making its final selection.
The last three to five years has been anything but stable for the Ruston-based private school, on and off the football field.
Between a merry-go-round of head football coaches to the direct impact of a Covid 19 world to the turmoil surrounding a lawsuit that led to even more changes within the Board of Directors and administration, the school has experienced some rough waters.
It’s been a tough time at times for the Creek. There has been a lack of stability within the football program since Ben Haddox stepped away in 2018. However, it feels as if the sun is starting to peak out from behind the clouds.
Covid 19 is a thing of the past when it comes to schools, at least to the level that the nation saw for about a 12- to 18-month period. The day-to-day operations of schools across the country seem to be back to pre-Covid norms.
The criminal portion of the aforementioned lawsuit ended last fall with the Assistant Attorney General (the civil portion of the lawsuit against the school will be decided sometime this summer).
Lomax Napper sits at the top of the Cedar Creek School Board of Directors. And from all indications, the board is focused on what is best for the school as Cedar Creek looks to move forward.
And on the competitive playing fields, Creek teams have recorded some nice wins over the past few years despite the turmoil.
Gene Vandenlangenberg led the Lady Cougar basketball team to the school’s first appearance in a state title game (2022) since joining the LHSAA ranks. He recently led the Cougar golfers to a district title earlier this week. Vandenlangenberg, who was one of those pillars at the school for the past two decades, announced his retirement from the basketball coaching circles following this season. Katie Hall was hired as his successor – a move that feels like a home run.
The Creek boys and girls powerlifting teams have won state titles under the direction of head coach Jacob Angevine over the past few years.
Veteran softball coach Julie Riser has the Lady Cougars back to the playoffs and into a quarterfinal match-up against Opelousas Catholic this weekend. Can the Lady Cougars win one more to return to the state tournament for the first time since this senior class were seventh graders?
Craig Moss led Creek cross country to numerous team and individual state titles on both the boys’ and girls’ side. Boys basketball and football both made playoff appearances this school year. The school appears to be headed in the right direction. At least it feels that way.
However, the impending football hire is important for the school, the program and the kids.
Too much change has occurred within the program too frequently since Haddox left the sideline in 2018. Shannon Brown wasn’t the right fit. Matt Middleton – who served two different stints within 18 months — didn’t stay long enough to know what he ultimately could have accomplished with the program. And Steven Ensminger and the school mutually parted ways after only four months last summer.
So, it’s been a roller coaster ride for the Cougar football program; and I’m not talking about the mini-mine train. I’m talking about one of those roller coasters that I simply refuse to ride. A dizzying one to say the least, bordering on nauseous at times.
The hiring committee has an opportunity to provide the fan base some non-medicinal Dramamine to calm that nauseous feeling.
Led by a group of Creek administrators, board members, alumni, and supporters, the question is can this group find the right fit this time? That’s the big question. It’s an important question. It feels like a must-get-it-right hire.
As the process wraps up its third week since the school announced Middleton’s resignation on April 5, the hope is that the next Cougars head football coach will grow roots within the school. No program – high school, college or professional – will have much success when there is constant turnover at the top.
So, it’s imperative that the next coach is the right coach. X’s and O’s will be important, but the ultimate choice in candidate must fit the school culture and become invested in the program and the kids for the long haul.
