L.B. Landry will have an interim head coach in charge of the program after the LHSAA suspended coach Noel Ellis Sr. for a full season due to player eligibility issues.
Carl Spicer Jr. became the interim coach in May, he said. A St. Paul's graduate, Spicer has been on the Landry coaching staff for the past three seasons.
"I'm focused on building and maximizing our opportunities for this year," said Spicer, a defensive line coach last season. "And should coach Ellis come back next season, my job is to make sure he comes back to a better situation than he left."
The LHSAA suspended Ellis after a player eligibility issue caused the school to forfeit a first-round playoff game last season. Landry concluded the regular season with a 3-7 overall record, good enough for a No. 14 seed in the Division II select playoffs. But the school forfeited the scheduled first-round game against Vandebilt Catholic after the eligibility matters came to light.
Spicer coached for two seasons under former head coach Keenan Lewis and remained on the staff after the school hired Ellis, who previously served as defensive coordinator at Warren Easton.
Spicer came to Landry as an offensive line coach and became offensive coordinator in his second season. He was a director of football operations and coached the defensive line last season.
Spicer was a defensive lineman at St. Paul's. An injury in the second game of his senior season ended his playing career. He attended Southeastern Louisiana and earned degrees in criminal justice and sociology.
Landry had roughly 40 players in attendance for summer conditioning workouts early this week. The team graduated 28 seniors after last season.
Former Edna Karr standout Munchie Legaux will serve as offensive coordinator. Elcee Refuge will serve as defensive coordinator.