Annual LHSCA Coaches Convention Set For Kick-Off On Tuesday
Tuesday Schedule • Wednesday Schedule
The 2022 LHSCA Coaches Convention is set to kick off this week in Baton Rouge with its two-day clinic, Tuesday, July 12 and Wednesday, July 13.
The annual event is preceded by the golf scramble, now closed for registration, on Monday, July 11. High school coaches and athletic directors along with school administrators will convene at the Crowne Plaza Hotel to attend sport-specific and professional development clinic sessions, network with others in the industry, and catch up with old coaching friends.
We had a chance to meet up with LHSCA Director Eric Held for a few minutes concerning its year’s convention.
Q: Going into the 2022 event, any important info to lead off that coaches and ADs may like to know?
Held: It is great to return to The Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge for this event. It is the highlight of every summer, and it is usually the signal of the end of summer and that the fall sports seasons and school are right around the corner. This year the convention is a week earlier. When this event was moved to Shreveport in 2018 and 2019, the Crowne Plaza was unsure it would host this event and had to take care of itself and began booking dates in July in future years. We have a great relationship with The Crowne and moving it elsewhere in Baton Rouge would be costly and raise many logistics questions. We should be back a week later in 2023 and in future years.
We always strive to put together a great lineup and get the schedule out as soon as possible. Like every year, there are changes in the last 10 days prior to the event and, instead of amending the schedule and marking it up with a red pen, we wait until it is almost set before releasing it. We send out emails a few weeks in advance with what days the specific sports will host speakers and release speaker names on social media. College and high school coaches both have issues pop up late that necessitate a change in days or times or if they cannot be present. Some college coaches must play catch up and hit the road recruiting. Some are asked by their head coach to stay on campus and work or asked to travel to evaluation camps. Some NCAA sports have dead periods during our clinic. We have learned to not panic, adjust and put together a strong schedule for our coaches.
Q: How does/can a coach, athletic director, or school administrator register for the LHSCA Convention?
Held: A few days prior to the Convention, each LHSCA member should receive an email from American Tradeshow concerning information for receiving their clinic badge at registration. This will help expedite the registration process at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Registration will take place in the Premier Ballroom III at the Crowne Plaza and begins at 8:00am on both days. The badge will allow admittance into each session and make each registrant eligible for door prizes. The first 500 to register will receive clinic gifts.
There is no registration fee – that is a benefit included in their $50 LHSCA membership paid by each coach’s school for their LHSCA coaches card. Part of that fee pays for the Convention and all the expenses that come along with it.
If you are a new coach or switched schools, come to Premier III and our staff will print out a badge with your new school information.
Q: Any significant changes for the 2022 Convention?
Held: The LHSCA Golf Scramble is back on Monday and at Greystone CC this year with the clinic on Tuesday and Wednesday. Last year, the clinic preceded the golf tournament. So many coaches and ADs like the golf tournament kicking things off. We are creatures of habit and big on tradition.
We have worked on giving attendees educational opportunities in the last few years. NIL Education will be offered in the General Session on Tuesday afternoon. It will be a great opportunity to learn about one of the biggest hot-button topics facing high school athletics in our nation. Doesn’t matter your stance, important to gain education on any topic that is new on the scene.
Head, Heat, and Heart Education from Ochsner staff on Tuesday morning gives attendees the opportunity to stay in compliance with BESE standards with their school or school system.
Q: What speakers have you received feedback on from coaches and which ones highlight the clinic?
Held: We have put together a tremendous group of speakers for the specific sports. Our coaches who attend will benefit from being in the sessions. Those in attendance desire to continue learning so they can take back to their program and staff.
We are always excited to have our high school coaches share their knowledge with their colleagues.
We have many college coaches who prepped at a Louisiana high school or who began their coaching careers on the high school level in Louisiana. That makes this group special!
We have a large number of head college coaches in all the sports along with top assistant coaches from around our state and the south that are connected to Louisiana. Our coaches are familiar with the names and anticipate seeing them share knowledge and expertise.
The new head coaches in the sports of volleyball – Tonya Johnson – and men’s basketball – Matt McMahon – will be in attendance. One of the greatest college basketball assistants in the history of the game in Bob Starkey is back at LSU. Current Ole Miss men’s basketball staffer Stacy Hollowell, who last year lead Loyola-New Orleans to the NAIA Men’s National Basketball title, will be present. College assistants, New Orleans area natives and brothers Cortez (LSU) and Cordae (Charlotte) Hankton will be on hand. We have a former NFL head coach in Hue Jackson, now head at Grambling on hand. Byron Dawson has coached high school and college football in our state and now gets to start a program from scratch at Centenary. Our track & field/cross country lineup is stellar with its speaker roster.
The baseball lineup has a state champion coach and two future stars in the college game. Powerlifting showcases two rising stars in the business and soccer has two high school champion coaches and a new college coach as speakers. Softball has an experienced lineup for its attendees. On court presentations for volleyball and basketball will not disappoint! We could go on and on. This will be a great event for all who attend!
Other notes:
Clinic attendees are reminded that there will be a Coaches Social on Monday night at Tin Roof Brewery at 1624 Wyoming Street in Baton Rouge from 7:00-9:00pm. RedZone Fundraising, 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge, BSN, and SportsYou are the sponsors.