Livingston Collegiate Tabs Devon Francois As New Football Coach
by Hunter Bower // GeauxPreps.com Owner
NEW ORLEANS — Former All-SWAC selection and Edna Karr alum Devon Francois has been named the new head football coach at Livingston Collegiate Academy.
The New Orleans native begins his first stint as a head coach after previously serving as an assistant on staffs at Southern Arkansas University, Jefferson Rise Middle School, St. Augustine and Booker T. Washington.
“I am extremely humbled and grateful for the opportunity to lead Wolfpack Nation,” said Francois. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to focus my efforts on building a great program in New Orleans while strengthening and broadening our reach inside our school and community.”
Francois recently served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Sophie B. Wright before accepting the job at Livingston.
Livingston Collegiate opted not to play varsity football in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and is just two years removed from posting a 4-4 record in its first season of football. Francois will get the chance to put his own footprint on the Wolfpack program as it enters a fresh season.
“Our coaching staff will ensure the success of our student-athletes both on and off the field and within the community,” said Francois. “Both Coach (Yusef) Young and Principal (Evan) Stoudt are very supportive of the vision and direction I see the program moving in.”
Francois is no stranger to success on the gridiron and has guided teams he has either played for or coached with to multiple accolades.
“Coach Francois stood out in the hiring process because he was passionate and deeply knowledgeable what it takes to succeed in New Orleans,” said Livingston athletic director Yusef Young. “He has a history of hard work and his commitment to mentoring and guiding young men is unmatched.”
As a collegiate player at Alcorn State, Francois was named to the All-SWAC football team twice during his career. He was chosen as a first-team selection in 2014 after helping lead the Braves to a SWAC championship and a black college football national championship. He was also named to the second-team list in 2013.
His defensive prowess is what set him apart from others in college. He led the Braves in total tackles with 84 in 2014 along with a team-high five interceptions. He totaled a team-best 90 tackles in 2013.
Following his collegiate career, he played in a professional overseas football league for a few seasons before returning home to begin his coaching career.
In high school, Francois played an integral part in helping Edna Karr and his head coach Jabaar Juluke make a state championship game appearance for the first time in over a decade.
In other coaching news around the state, Tank Lotief was named the new head football coach at Breaux Bridge after previously serving in the same position at Kaplan.
A pair of Vermilion Catholic coordinators have left to take head coaching positions within the state. Cory Brodie will take over at Kaplan while Travis Blaize was chosen to lead Westminster Christian.
Elton High School replaced Donnie Bruchhaus with former St. Louis offensive coordinator Marcus Lejeune.
Jeff Fitzgerald stepped down as the head coach at Ouachita Parish while Vandebilt Catholic’s Lance Ledet also announced that he would be stepping away. The two schools are currently in search for a replacement.
Four-time defending state champion Lafayette Christian is still in search for a new head coach since the school parted ways with Jacarde Carter at the beginning of the year.
Interviews are still ongoing for many openings around the state including Madison, North Central, Northwood-Lena, Slaughter Charter and West St. Mary.
Below is a list of schools that have found or are currently searching for a new head football coach. A special thanks to Alex Newell for helping to compile the list.
2021 LHSAA FOOTBALL COACHING CAROUSEL
| School | Former Coach | New Coach |
| Albany | Mike Janis | David Knight, Albany DC |
| Bogalusa | Adam Brumfield | Cyril Crutchfield, Broadmoor HC |
| Breaux Bridge | Chad Pourciau | Tank Lotief, former Kaplan HC |
| Broadmoor | Cyril Crutchfield | Jacobi Theirry, former North Central HC |
| Caldwell Parish | Buster Duplissey | Jimmy Sampson, Caldwell Parish DC |
| Catholic-BR | Gabe Fertitta | David Simoneaux, Catholic-PC HC |
| Catholic-PC | David Simoneaux | Vinnie Bullara, Catholic-PC OC |
| C.E. Byrd | Mike Suggs | Stacey Ballew, C.E. Byrd DC |
| Cedar Creek | Shannon Brown | Matt Middleton, West Ouachita HC |
| Comeaux | Doug Dotson | Eric Holden, former St. John/Berwick HC |
| Crowley | Jeptha Wall | Kyron Benoit, Crowley DC |
| De La Salle | Ryan Manale | Graham Jarrott, Rummel OC |
| Elton | Donnie Bruchhaus | Marcus Lejeune, St. Louis OC |
| Green Oaks | Terrence Isaac, Sr. | Chadwick Lewis, Port Allen OC |
| Higgins | Brandon Thibodeaux | Clifford Harris, John Ehret AC |
| Jesuit | Scott Bairnsfather | Ryan Manale, De La Salle HC |
| Kaplan | Tank Lotief | Cory Brodie, Vermilion Catholic DC |
| Lafayette Christian | Jacarde Carter | |
| Livingston Collegiate | Blake Thompson | Devon Francois, Sophie B. Wright DC |
| Madison Parish | Landry Carter | |
| McKinley | Richard Oliver | Malcolm Reed, St. Amant AC |
| North Central | Oliver Thierry | |
| Northeast | David Masterson | Devyn Baker, Liberty DC |
| Northshore | Josh Buelle | Bobby Sanders, Northshore OC |
| Northwood-Lena | Justin Webb | |
| Ouachita Parish | Jeff Fitzgerald | |
| Pearl River | Joe Harris | Mike LaBourdette, Pearl River DC |
| Pine Prairie | David-Michael Carrell | Richard Clark, Pine Prairie interim HC |
| Pineville | Darin Moore | Bryant Bell, Tioga DC |
| Pope John Paul II | Charlie Cryer | Philip Pigot, Biloxi (MS) DC |
| Sam Houston | Chad Paulk | Chad Davis, Sam Houston OC |
| Slaughter Charter | Craig Kuester | |
| Sophie B. Wright | Dennis Christopher | Kenneth Dorsey, B.T. Washington-NO AC |
| St. Charles | Frank Monica | Wayne Stein, St. Charles DC |
| St. John | Eric Holden | Coby Minton, Central Catholic OC |
| St. Michael | Joey Sanchez | Zach Lege, St. Michael OC |
| Vandebilt Catholic | Lance Ledet | |
| Varnado | Milton Green | Adam Brumfield, Bogaulsa HC |
| Washington-Marion | Toriano Williams | Jules Sullen, former Hamilton Christian HC |
| West St. Mary | Clifton Amelin | |
| Westminster Christian | Patrick Clarkston | Travis Blaize, Vermilion Catholic OC |
| Woodlawn-SH | C.J. Byrd | Thedrick Harris, former Marshall, TX HC |