Mount Carmel brings state championship coach Ashley Lala Miller home

Mount Carmel Academy has announced the return of one of its own, naming Ashley Lala Miller as the school’s new head Volleyball coach. The hire comes after former Mount Carmel coach Taylor Ricaud accepted the same position at Pope John Paul II in December.

Miller returns to MCA with a championship pedigree and deep roots in the program. A former student-athlete at Mount Carmel, she was a member of the Cougars’ 2010 LHSAA Division I State Championship team and earned Outstanding Player honors during the state title run.

“Coach Ashley’s return to Mount Carmel Academy marks an exciting new chapter for the volleyball program, one rooted in tradition and guided by proven leadership,” the school said in its release. “The MCA community is excited to welcome her home and looks forward to continued success under her guidance.”

During her time at Haynes Academy, Miller led the program to the 2024 LHSAA Division III State Championship. Her success at Haynes earned her several accolades, including LVCA Division III Coach of the Year, All-Metro Coach of the Year, and multiple District Coach of the Year honors from 2021–2025.