Tom Dodge
Former LSU Eunice head girls basketball coach Michael Bari passed away Thursday morning in Alexandria from complications due to COVID-19.
Bari, 58, served as the Lady Bengal head coach for nine seasons (2004-2013) and amassed a 154-113 record.
He joined LSU Eunice after coaching at Colorado Northwest Community College, Gannon University, Alderson Broadus College, Penn State University-Behrend College and East Stroudsburg University.
After LSUE, Bari moved on to West Virginia Wesleyan College and Salem International University before retiring in 2017.
“Coach Bari was a part of our athletic department for nine years and had an impact on hundreds of young people that came through our doors,” LSUE athletic director Jeff Willis said. “His infectious personality and charisma were something you always wanted to be around.
“He was someone that dedicated his life to the development of young people and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.”
Pine Prairie head girls basketball coach Renotta Edwards played at LSUE from 2005-2007 and later coached with Bari at LSUE.
“It is definitely a shock,” Edwards said. “I had so much love and respect for Coach Bari. He was a great teacher about life – not just coaching or playing basketball.
“He cared about how we were doing in the classroom and wanted to help us reach our goals after graduation.
“I will always remember the 2007 team when we won so many games (28-6 - finished fourth at the national tournament) and I broke the points record (1,195 points),” she said. “That was a special team and he helped us play to our best potential.”
Edwards set the school record with 43 points against Panola in 2017.
She also set an LSUE record with 22 consecutive game scoring in double figures (2006-07).
After playing for Northwestern State, she returned to coach at LSUE from 2010-2012.
“He gave me my first coaching opportunity,” Edwards said. “I learned a lot from him both when I played and then as an assistant coach.
“This is such a sad day,” she said. “I am totally devastated – he made such an impact on my life.”
Taylor Hurd Lawrence played for Bari his final season at LSUE before she moved on to play at Tabor College in Kansas.
“Coach Bari taught me to believe in myself and always keep my head up,” she said.
“He pushed me and all my other teammates to be the best we could be on and off the court – life lessons that will be carried with all of us forever.
“I could never thank him enough for all the time and dedication he poured into us players,” she added.
Lawrence said she will always appreciate that Coach Bari “went out of his way to build strong relationships and will remember laughing at his sense of humor.”
Lawrence said her time at LSUE was special especially because of her head coach.
“He found me through a recruiting website and somehow convinced me to move 11 hours away from home,” she said. “But I’m so glad I did.”
Lawrence now lives in her home state of Oklahoma and spent time as a middle school coach before stopping to raise two young boys.
She is expecting a little girl due on Aug. 20 and wants to return to coaching when the kids are older.
“Anyone who saw him coach saw the passion he had for the game and everything he did,” she said.
“I only hope to be able to touch and impact as many lives coaching as he has.”
Melissa Bridges Trahan played at LSUE from 2010 to 2012 and remembered the advice Bari told them.
“I remember Coach Bari speaking of ‘The three things everyone should do every day”, quoted from Jim Valvano.
“To me there are three things everyone should do every day. Number one is laugh. Number two is think — spend some time in thought. Number three, you should have your emotions move you to tears. If you laugh, think and cry, that’s a heck of a day.”
“I can remember a one-on- one meeting with Coach Bari that had me in tears, and as I got up to leave, he cracked a joke to make me laugh, then adds “that’s a heck of a day,” she said.
“I will be forever grateful for the endless amounts of time he put into us,” Trahan said.
“I am even more grateful to Mrs. Kelle, Steven and Matthew for sharing such a great man with all of us.
“I know Tyler Compton (our former teammate) was waiting for you with open arms,” Trahan said.
Compton, who played at LSUE and then Concordia University (Texas) was killed at age 24 in a car accident in 2016 when she was hit by a wrong-way driver on I-49.
Former LSUE assistant basketball coach Brooke Richard was also a Lady Bengal under Bari’s tenure and joined him at West Virginia Wesleyan.
“I am thankful he is the one coach who gave me to the opportunity to play college ball twice at different levels,” she said. “He saw the potential in me.
“Those experiences and opportunities have opened many more doors for me since and I can thank him for that.”
Former LSUE head softball coach Andy Lee joined the Lady Bengals progam in 2009 and shared an office area with Bari in those early days.
“Coach Bari was very accepting and helped me through my beginning years in Eunice,” Lee said. “I will alway remember the witty conversation we had about life and sports.
“He was a great father, it was pleasure being around his two sons and the family atmosphere he cherished.” Lee said.