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Longtime Coach Guy LeCompte Finds a Home at Holy Cross

By
Jeff Palermo
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Coach Guy LeCompte

You never know where life will take you. First-year Holy Cross coach Guy LeCompte graduated from LSU in management and had thoughts of going to medical school. To prepare for such a career, he went to Hannan High School in St. Bernard Parish as a chemistry teacher.

LeCompte also coached on the football team and the experience was so great, he found his calling in life and that was to coach football.

LeCompte left Hannan after one season and spent four years at Parkview Baptist in Baton Rouge. In 1999, one of the top coaches in Louisiana, Bill Stubbs hired him at Salmen High School in St. Tammany Parish. LeCompte was the offensive coordinator in 2000 when the Spartans shocked John Curtis to win the Class 4A title game.

He stayed at Salmen through Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the year after he went to Mandeville. LeCompte had an 11-year run at Mandeville and led the Skippers to three semi-final playoff trips.

But LeCompte’s time at the Mandeville ended abruptly, just days before the start of the 2017 season. The man who won 93 games at Mandeville resigned. It then came out LeCompte filed a lawsuit against the school system claiming they ignored mold issues at Mandeville’s field house.

LeCompte, who loves coaching, found out how much he really missed it as he sat out the 2017 season.

In February, Holy Cross fired Eric Rebaudo and LeCompte was hired nearly two months later at the New Orleans Catholic school.

“Coach LeCompte has the proven expertise to motivate young men to achieve goals while building a strong culture of respect and sportsmanship,” said Holy Cross headmaster Sean Martin in a press release. “Holy Cross is fortunate to have Coach LeCompte join our leadership team as head football coach and athletic director.”

“The Holy Cross job fell in my lap,” said LeCompte. “I felt this was a good job, I believe in their mission statement and the leaders in the school have the best interest of the kids in mind.”

LeCompte, who graduated from fellow Catholic League school Archbishop Shaw, also liked the religious aspect.

“You can pray in school, I felt like that it was good fit.”

LeCompte didn’t officially take over the job until June and learning names and building relationships were his priorities.

He compares his first season at Holy Cross to trying to build a plane while it’s flying.

Like most high school teams, Holy Cross had its share of ups and downs during the 10-game regular season schedule.

In the end, the Tigers finished with a 7-3 record and they will host the school’s first home playoff game since 2015 this Friday.

“I am pleased with how the kids have responded to what we’ve asked them to do,” said LeCompte. “It was tough to install a new system and put an offseason program into place.”

The future looks bright for Holy Cross, as some of their top players are sophomores. Quarterback John Dade Wooten has taken over as the starter and is 3-1 in that role for the Tigers.

5-foot-10 Jaden Handy rushed for nearly 1,000 yards during his sophomore campaign.

5-foot-8 wide out Jalen Johnson has a lot of potential

On defense, sophomore Kolbe Cage is the team’s fourth leading receiver and has two interceptions. LeCompte said opposing offenses are already trying to run away from him.

Jackson Wallace is another sophomore with two interceptions.

LeCompte believes there’s room at the top of the Catholic League, which has been dominated by John Curtis and Rummel in recent years. The long-time coach is also interested in helping to develop responsible men.

LeCompte’s life has taken some twists and turns, but he’s helping Holy Cross students find their way in life early.

Watch St. Augustine vs. Holy Cross football playoffs – Friday, November 9th at 7:00pm CST streaming live on YurView.com.

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