Choosing Another Path: Ken Sears thankful for time at St. Paul’s

by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor

The first thought was one of gratitude.

For Ken Sears to have spent a total of 36 years at St. Paul’s –  the last 27 as head coach – was enough to consider the good fortune he enjoyed at the Covington parochial school.

But the further he stepped away after the Wolves’ final game on Nov. 21 – a 34-14 setback to Evangel Christian Academy in the Division I select regionals – the more Sears felt inclined to begin considering his coaching future somewhere else.

“There was a lot of thought around Christmas and January,” Sears said. “I said, let me do this and see what happens. I started feeling that this was the time to do it.”

Sears, 59, felt compelled to try and replicate the process of building and guiding another program, deciding to step down Feb. 12 as the dean of head coaches on the Northshore. He won 66% of his games (198-101) and led St. Paul’s to 23 consecutive winning seasons and to postseason play in 21 straight seasons since 2000.

“I’ll always bleed blue and gold, I love that place,” Sears said. “I was starting to get the feeling that I needed something new while I was still young to build something. Building is the fun part. The sustaining is a little more difficult, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished during my tenure. While I’m still at this age, my juices are still flowing and going. I’m just looking for an opportunity to build something new.”

St. Paul’s completed a 9-3 season in 2025 before exiting the playoffs in the second round. The Wolves closed out the regular season with five straight wins that included an undefeated District 6-5A title.

“Coach Sears leaves behind a strong legacy of winning football, having brought home numerous district championships and playoff victories,” St. Paul’s president Joe Dickens said in a release. “More importantly, he has counseled and positively impacted countless young men during his tenure, including his service as Dean of Students.”

Sears guided St. Paul’s to six state quarterfinals and one semifinal in 20210.

The Wolves (8-3) overcame a one-point halftime deficit at Catholic-Baton Rouge and took a 28-22 lead with 4:54 remaining after scoring on consecutive drives of 88 and 92 yards, respectively. 

The Bears, though, drove 69 yards in eight plays to score the go-ahead touchdown and added an extra point with 1:47 to go for a 29-28 victory.

“That was a tough loss just knowing that a break here, a break there,” Sears said. “That was memorable for a couple of seasons. My son was a senior on that team as well. Those years are always special when both your boys (Danny and Kenny) play for you and have one (Kenny) coaching with me.”

Catholic head coach David Simoneaux Jr. felt his team was hanging in the waning moments.

“All the credit to St. Paul’s,” he said afterward. “What a gutsy effort out of those guys. I thought we outplayed them the whole first half, except for the last three minutes. I think they just outcoached us there at the end.”

Sears graduated from Holy Cross and later began his coaching career under Harry Nunez at St. Paul’s in 1990, where he lived in the school’s on-campus dormitories. He coached the Wolves’ offensive line, linebackers, and was the defensive coordinator until being elevated to head coach in 1999.

St. Paul’s enjoyed a string of 19 straight district wins and won the league three times with unblemished records.

“In one respect, I feel lucky to have been at one place for a long time, but at the same time, I was starting to get that feeling, and I’ve been kind of having it for a little bit,” Sears said. “I felt like it was time to do it.”

The Wolves’ job is a good one, ripe to continue their winning ways.

“I think the programs in place,” Sears said. “I hope somebody builds on it and it grows. I hope they go farther than me. I hope someone takes it to the next level. What I’m leaving behind is in pretty good shape, and whoever takes it over, I wish them the best of luck. They’re taking over an outstanding program. It’s not because of me alone. It’s my coaches, our parental support, and more importantly, the kids.”

With roots in the Catholic League, where two-time reigning Division I select state champion Karr has ascended to a state power, Sears respects the league but remains open to the future.

“Part of me being a Holy Cross guy, and playing in the Catholic League, I’ve always had a desire,” he said. “But jobs are tough to come by. If I need to have a little patience, I have to have a little patience. It is the most competitive league in the state. If you’re a true competitor, who wouldn’t want to coach in that league?

“If I have to sit out a cycle, I’ll sit out,” he said. “That can help me recalibrate a bit. I still feel like I’m ready to go now if I want. It was just time to make a decision on it. It’s all in God’s hands at this point. I’ll be led one way or the other.”