Riverside’s Dizer Steps Down As Head Football Coach
Story courtesy of The Rebel Express – rebelexpress.net
Kevin Dizer, who has led the Riverside Academy football team for the past four seasons, stepped down as head coach Monday. He will remain the school in a new role as student services director. A search for the new coach is underway.
Dizer, a native of Sterlington, spent three seasons as an assistant coach under Bill Stubbs and his successor, Chris Lachney. He also was the girls basketball and track and field coach.
In four seasons as coach of the Rebels, Dizer accumulated a record of 18-23 with three playoff appearances. This year’s squad had to contend with a hard hit from Hurricane Ida, which caused millions of dollars worth of damage to the school and many players’ homes. The team finished 3-5 but missed the playoffs by one-tenth of a point.
Dizer met with his team Monday morning to announce his decision.
AROUND THE STATE
In a statement released just shortly after the first round of playoff game Friday night, Marksville head coach J.T. Dunbar announced his retirement following 20 years at the helm of the Tiger program:
Well, as they say, all great things must come to an end. Last night ended without the desired result on the scoreboard but I couldn’t be more proud of the group of guys that stuck it out and competed with their brothers. These guys handled so much adversity this season with an unwavering desire and commitment.
With that said, this game had many more emotions for me on a personal level.
Thirty years ago I received a phone call from then principal, Mr. Jerome J St Romain to talk about coming home to be an assistant coach under first-year head coach, Joel Desselle. That was not part of the plan though. My wife and I had just graduated from Northeast La University in Monroe. She already had a great job as a dental hygienist and I had assistant opportunities in the Monroe area.
Obviously, it didn’t take much arm twisting to come back to a place that was “home”. Fast forward to the spring of 2001 and that same principal hired a coach that thought he had it all figured out. Didn’t take long to figure out the difference between sitting in the small chair being quite different than sitting in the big chair that always seemed to stay warm …lol.
What a ride it’s been. From being surrounded by great staffs, players and community support, we were able to accomplish so many things that had never been accomplished here. Those accomplishments may be “the highlights” but don’t even come close to telling the full story of this 20-year ride as the head football coach of this great program. The relationships built with every person that walked thru those doors with the sign that reads “if your presence does not make an impact, then your absence will certainly not be noticed “ will forever be cherished.
In 2019, I met with my current boss, Mrs. Liza Ravare-Jacobs, and told her that 2021 would be my final season. That decision was not an easy one but I felt that I have done everything that can be done for this program that is so dear to my heart. While there may be new challenges in the coaching ranks much later on, I will step away to spend more time with family for a period of time while remaining employed at MHS.
To all of my former players, I hope that you took something from being a part of our program that made you better husbands, fathers, and men.
To the community that has been so gracious to us over the years, please know that any bit of success that we’ve accomplished could not have been achieved without your support.
To the families of our players, thank you for entrusting us with your kids and providing so much support to all of us.
Forever purple and gold,
Coach JT Dunbar