OHS Enters New FB Era
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Don’t expect the Opelousas High football program to resemble the status quo, says newly-hired Tigers’ head coach Harry Coleman.
Accompanying Coleman to Opelousas High will be several handpicked assistant coaches, while he also plans on changing the OHS offensive and defensive schemes.
Coleman, who was hired last week to coach Opelousas football in 2025, anticipates using a spread offense. Defensively Coleman wants to use a 4-2-5, which he feels is most suitable for high school teams with high levels of athleticism.
“Opelousas High is a gem of a program with a lot of talent.I’ve coached very young players in other places and it seems every time, we would play Opelousas teams for championships. Opelousas has continued to establish a great tradition in football, said Coleman, who was the head football coach at Peabody Magnet Academy the past few seasons.
This season Coleman expects to emphasize defense at Opelousas.
“We’re going to play hard, play fast and play good defense. I’m a defensive-minded coach. Give me 14 or 21 points and we are going to win,” Coleman added.
Coleman still has a couple of weeks remaining to fulfill at Peabody. He anticipates officially beginning his tenure at Opelousas High early in April.
The Tigers were 35-14, and a playoff participant the past four years under head coach Jimmy Zachery, Jr.
Opelousas also won a 2023 state title, the first football championship in school history.
However by February the Opelousas football program had lost seven seniors who signed scholarships and contributed heavily during the last four years.
In addition Coleman said a number of Tigers’ assistant coaches have followed Zachery to Liberty High in Baton Rouge, according to Coleman.
“I am not looking to run anyone off who was on the staff before. All I know is there are coaches who are leaving (Opelousas High) and going with Jimmy. I would be happy to have any of them on my staff, but a lot of them are leaving,” said Coleman.
Opelousas High principal Greg Campbell said he interviewed 12 candidates for the head football position before ultimately deciding on Coleman, who will not be given the position of athletic director.
“There were a lot of inquiries. What I liked specifically (about Coleman) is his knowledge of the game. He played on a national championship team (at LSU). I think he is a person of great character and someone who can relate well to the players he coaches,” Campbell said.
Coleman spent the last three years at Peabody, a school known more for winning basketball championships than football titles.
The War Horses had a 7-5 record in 2023. Last year Peabody was 2-8 in football.
Campbell said Coleman did a good job at Peabody considering the circumstances.
“What I like is (Coleman) was able to take a football program, make improvements and draw interest in the sport. He also made the playoffs there.
Coleman, a Franklin native who played at West St. Mary High, was a member of the 2008 LSU national championship team where he was a starting linebacker who signed eventually with the New Orleans Saints.
Campbell said Coleman has visited the Opelousas High campuses several times, but Coleman has not yet met with the players.
The hiring of Coleman has already been announced on the St. Landry Parish School Board website, Campbell said.
Admittedly Coleman said Opelousas will probably be behind other football programs who are already well into their offseason regimens.
