By T. Scott Boatright
Ruston native Larry Cordaro has found a new home
Cordaro, who had spent the past nine seasons relishing in the success of his first head-coaching stint at LSU-Alexandria, surprisingly stepped down from that role in March.
But on Thursday news broke that Cordaro, who led LSU-A to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championship game in 2017 and compiled an overall record of 224-50, going 107-10 at home and leading the Generals to eight NAIA National Tournaments, has accepted a position as Director of Basketball Operations at Troy University in Alabama.
Cordaro will be joining a Troy staff led by head coach Scott Cross, who Cordaro coached with when both served as assistant coaches at Texas-Arlington.
“Scott Cross is a friend and a man of integrity that knows his Xs and Os,” Cordaro said. “We have a history together and I know what kind of character and work-ethic he has. And being Director of Basketball Operations lets me keep my hand in everything – coaching, recruiting, planning and logistics – all the things I love.
“It already feels like home. I’m going to like it here. Scott’s a family man andI love his family, and obviously we have a history working together at UT-Arlington. I had some other opportunities, but all of that combined made this a no-brainer as far as my decision. It’s just the right place at the right time for me.
After graduating from Ruston High School in 1998, Cordaro spent time studying at LouisianaTech before becoming a member of the Xavier University (New Orleans) men’s basketball team. He later transferred to LSU, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 2002 and a master of science in sport management in 2004.
Cordaro began his coaching career as a student assistant and then a graduate assistant on the staff at LSU before becoming Director of Basketball Operations at LSU, where he assisted with on-campus recruiting, academic monitoring coordinating pre-game meals and organizing team meetings with the LSU men’s basketball booster club.
Then came the move to UT-Arlington as an assistant coach along with Cross.
Cordaro spent two seasons at UTA, serving on former Mavs’ coach Eddie McCarter’s staff as one of the youngest Division I coaches in the country.
He later served as an associate head coach at Southeastern Louisiana before taking over as the first ever coach for LSU-A’s then-new basketball program in 2014.
Cordaro said he’s excited about his newest opportunity because Troy isn’t that far from Louisiana and plays in the Sun Belt Conference, where he’ll be traveling to face the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in SBC action.
“That’s exciting, too, with family and friends being close enough to come see me coach,” Cordaro said. “Troy just feels right. I like the people here, the facilities, the community – everything about it is great and it just feels right.”
