Former Louisiana Mr. Football Named Head Coach at Wossman
by: Vincent Cacioppo // GeauxPreps.com Managing Editor
Wossman High School has made a splash with its latest coaching hire, bringing in former Neville High School standout John Diarse to lead the Wildcats.
This will be Diarse’s first head coaching job, having previously served as the offensive coordinator at North Crowley High School in Texas and most recently the offensive coordinator at Slidell.
The Wildcats finished the 2024 season with a 6-6 record, advancing to the regional round of the playoffs. They made a statement in the first round with a 26-11 win over No. 12 seed Minden but eventually fell to No. 5 Iowa. Wossman looks to build on this momentum into the 2025 offseason.
Diarse brings an impressive playing resume to Wossman. A versatile athlete at Neville High School, he played quarterback and led the Tigers to the Class 4A state championship game, where he accounted for 148 rushing yards, 151 passing yards, and two touchdowns in a 29-22 loss to Karr.
As a senior, he totaled 1,685 passing yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 1,327 yards and 21 scores, earning the 2012 Mr. Football Award and 4A Offensive MVP honors from the LSWA.
A consensus four-star prospect, he was ranked among the nation’s top athletes by major recruiting services and named a PrepStar Top 300 All-American. Diarse also played in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl before graduating in December 2012 and enrolling early at LSU.
Enrolling at LSU in January, Diarse redshirted his freshman year but quickly became a contributor in Baton Rouge. Over three seasons with the Tigers, he played in 25 games, starting eight, and recorded 28 receptions for 412 yards and three touchdowns. His most productive season came in 2015 when he played in all 12 games, starting five, and finished with 13 receptions for 137 yards.
Diarse graduated from LSU in three years with a degree in Sports Administration and transferred to TCU following the 2015 season. At TCU, he became an instant contributor.
In 2016, he played all 13 games (8 starts), recording 33 catches for 442 yards and three touchdowns, including a career-best 139 yards against SMU and two TDs in the Liberty Bowl. As a senior captain in 2017, he led TCU with 575 yards on 35 catches, highlighted by a 130-yard game vs. Kansas and a touchdown in the Big 12 Championship.
Wossman’s decision to bring in a former Louisiana Mr. Football and Division I student-athlete as a head coach is a strong move. His experience at the highest levels of high school and college football makes him a prime candidate to elevate the Wildcats.
Featured Image Courtesy: Brian Edward Smith Photography