Chad Menard graduated from Eunice High in 1995, but he will always remember his Bobcat days as they helped shape his baseball career.
Menard, 43, has been hired as the head baseball coach at Vandebilt Catholic in Houma.
“I always wanted to be around the game,” Menard said. “I fell in love with everything about it.”
He played for all three head baseball coaches in Eunice High program history: Clarence Merricks, Scotty Richard and Scott Phillips.
“We won district three years in a row,” Menard said of his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
Menard was the district MVP and earned all-state honors his senior season, Phillips’s first year as head coach at EHS.
“Coach Phillips loved on us as players and taught us everything about the game,” Menard said. “I am proud to be part of the Bobcat tradition of winning.”
“I’ve had great catchers,” Phillips said. “Chad is one of them.
“Work ethic was the key with him,” the coach said.
After graduating from EHS, Menard went on to play baseball at McNeese State University.
In 2000, Menard earned a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance from McNeese and furthered his education earning a masters in health promotions in 2006.
Menard’s first head coaching job was at Iowa (2000-2003).
“I finished playing and completing my degree,” Menard said. “Iowa had an opening and I was fortunate they took me on as the head baseball coach as a new graduate.”
Iowa captured the 2003 district championship.
He then joined the LSU Eunice staff in 2004 and was part of the Bengals’ first baseball national championship in 2006.
“It was a huge deal,” Menard said. “I was in my late 20s and not far removed from being a player myself – it was neat to see the beginning of the tradition being built.
Menard said he learned a lot from LSUE coach Jeff Willis.
“He taught me you have to be great on and off the field,” Menard said of Willis. “The practice organization, the recruiting and everything else that goes into the professional part of college coaching.
“He taught a lot about the other side of the fence,” Menard said. “Winning in the office as well as on the field.”
“I’m so proud of the person Chad Menard is,” Willis said. “We were very fortunate to have him be a part of building our program to what it is today.
“He was my first assistant coaching hire and helped us to our first national championship,” Willis said. “I’m very lucky to call him friend. We definitely would not be where we are today without Chad being a part of us during the building years.
“His tireless work ethic and impeccable character has always been something everyone should emulate,” the Bengal coach said. “There was no doubt in my mind that he was going to be successful where ever he goes.”
After four years at LSUE, Menard then took the head coaching job at DeRidder.
His 11 years at DeRidder were very productive as he finished with an 213-175 overall record to go with three district championships.
In 2018, Menard and his team were the 4A State Runner-Ups and earned most wins in a season for DeRidder (35.)
“I enjoyed my time there, working with great people,” Menard said. “We had a lot of success and helped improve the facilities.”
Menard then spent two seasons at New Iberia Senior High.
“It was a new challenge and a step up in classification,” Menard said of the Class 5-A Yellow Jackets.
“It was a great experience with them,” he said. “They worked hard and you could see the fruits of their labor.”
When COVID-19 stopped the 2020 season, NISH was 10-2 overall and fourth in the power rankings.
“They were doing some things that hadn’t happened in a while at New Iberia,” he said. “They were ready to take off.”
Menard said his hiring at Vandebilt Catholic is an exciting turn in his career.
“I knew of their tradition,” he said. “It seemed like the right move for me.”
“They have super facilities and we want to build on the foundation that is already there.”
Menard will replace former Vandebilt coach Gee Cassard, who spent the last five years as a head baseball coach and teacher with the Terriers.
He will take over a Vandebilt program that went 6-3 overall before having its season shut down to the coronavirus.
Menard said the Class 4-A, Div. II Terriers will have an experienced group this next season.
Menard and his wife, JoAnna, have five children: Chipper, Alexis, Baylie, Krash, and Ashlyn.
The coach said he will commute the hour-and-a-half drive from New Iberia to Houma.
“It is very doable,” he said. “Plus commute time is great thinking time.”
Menard said over his 20 years as coach his love for baseball hasn’t changed.
“That fire burns as strong as it did when I was a player back in high school,” he said.
“I love watching the kids compete and I love seeing them improve over their careers.
“Coaching is such a huge platform to impact young lives,” Menard said.
“The coach-player relationship is a special bond.”
Menard said he starts at Vandebilt Catholic on Aug. 1.
The Terriers have captured 11 state high school baseball titles: 953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965 and 1971.
