Q & A With New OHS Head Basketball Coach Brad Boyd

Former Acadiana Prep, St. Thomas More, and Louisiana Ragin' Cajun basketball player Brad Boyd accepted the Opelousas High boys basketball head coaching position this week.

Here is a closer look at Boyd in this Q & A as he discusses what the job means to him, growing up in Opelousas, coaching against his former coach in Danny Broussard, the future, the impact his Mother had on his career, and of course, hoops.

 Q: How did the opportunity to become head basketball coach at OHS come about?

A (Boyd): A new AD (athletic director) came in and I was told he had offered the head job to someone else, but I was happy to still be on board as an assistant coach next year. I thought I was meeting with the new coach this morning, then the AD sat me down and said, "You're the guy. We're going to hire you as the new head coach". I was shocked and excited at the same time. I guess the potential coach passed on the opportunity. They gave me the opportunity and I took it.

Q: Being that you're born and raised in Opelousas, how special is this job to you?

A: It's more special, without a doubt. The kids that are at the school now, I grew up with their dads, uncles and cousins. I know the kids at the schools now through basketball. Opelousas is a tough city right now going through a lot of change in politics. We have a new mayor, a new chief of police, and now, a new head basketball coach.

It's all a good thing. It's all about these kids and the youth of Opelousas. I think if we mentor them going forward in a positive way, a lot of change can happen for the better in Opelousas. It's definitely got a big spot in my heart because I'm from here. I know what it takes to go, get a career, and come back to Opelousas and come back with a job and help out the next guys (generation).

Q: It sounds like this job is about more than just coaching basketball. It's about coaching young men in life, isn't it?

A: Without a doubt. Basketball is a great team sport that builds character, but my main goal is to mentor all the kids, including the ones that don't play basketball. I mentor them all. I talk to them all....Yes, we want to win in basketball and help kids get better at basketball, but it's really a life thing. Graduating high school, going to some kind of college or trade school and getting your degree or trade skills is the ultimate goal I'm shooting for.

Q: What can we expect out of the OHS Tigers basketball team next season?

A: We lost some key factors in last year's team, but we've got some hard nosed and young kids coming back. I know that every time we take the floor, we're going to play extremely hard and compete.

I know the kids are really excited about playing against STM, Teurlings and Northside to compete for the district championship. It's going to be an exciting and crazy atmosphere every home game. Rather than playing a Crowley, Rayne or Eunice at home in front of a gym with 50 fans, now we get to host an STM, Teurlings, Beau Chene, Northside and Carencro, and those games are going to be packed and intense. It'll bring me back to when I was in high school (at STM) in that same district when every district game was almost like a championship game. It was real intense with a playoff atmosphere. Our kids are really looking forward to it.

Q: When you played for STM at the OHS gym back in the late 90s, the atmosphere was electric. It sounds like that's something you're striving to bring back to all the home games at Opelousas High.

A: Oh yeah, without a doubt. We're going to get back to that great atmosphere. The icing on the cake is I get to coach against my former team and a guy in Danny Broussard who taught me a lot about basketball, fundamentals, and life. To be able to coach against him and be on the same floor is something I'm super excited about.

There's other great coaches in our district in Ross Rix, and coach (Christopher) Kovatch and Coach Williams at Beau Chene, but being able to be coaching on the same floor against Danny, a guy that I look up to is something I'm really excited about.

Q: You referenced your Mother on social media when announcing that you had accepted the job, describing how much she's means to you. What has she meant to you on this journey of life and basketball.

A: (pauses before emotionally responding) It's hard to explain Scott. It's just...I believe, like many people, that they have the greatest Mom in the world, which I believe I do. All the time and effort she put in, bringing me here and bringing me there. It just seems like it's all worth it, and now coming back to Opelousas and giving back to these kids, just like she gave to me all these years (pauses again) I truly have the best Mom in the world.

Q: Congratulations on the head coaching job and best of luck moving forward.

A: I really appreciate it Scott and look forward to talking again soon.