Verdin named assistant coach at McNeese State University

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Folks around Houma know Alaina Verdin because of her ability to get buckets.

As a player at both Terrebonne High and McNeese State University, Verdin wowed opponents with her versatility and ability to impact the game in many ways.


But with her playing days now through, Verdin is aiming to be known for something more. Now, Verdin wants to trade in her sneakers and gym shorts for a clipboard.

McNeese State University announced this week that it’s hired Verdin to be an assistant coach – the first official college coaching job the local product has had in her career.

Verdin finished her playing career with the Cowgirls in 2014-15, but stayed in Lake Charles last season to serve as McNeese’s Director of Game Operations.


Now, she’s officially going to be on the bench and she said she’s eager to get started.

“It feels great to be an assistant coach at my alma mater,” Verdin said. “I never would have thought I’d be blessed with a college coaching position so young, but this door opened for me unexpectedly and I’m very grateful. It’s cool to be able to start your career doing exactly what you want to be doing in an environment where you’ve built friendships and family bonds with teammates, coaches and fans along the way.”

“Alaina has a personality and smile that lights up a room when she walks into it,” McNeese head coach Kacie Cryer added. “She is a tremendous asset to our Cowgirl program and I knew when making this decision for my staff that I would not have to look very far. Alaina is a Cowgirl all the way.”


She’s wanted to be a coach for most of her life, too.

Verdin said the itch to be on the sidelines started as a teenager. The problem is she never knew when it’d all take hold because her decorated playing career was prosperous and filled with accomplishments.

With Terrebonne, Verdin was a terror – a multi-time All-State selection who scored 2,269 points in her dominant career.


As a senior, Verdin averaged 22 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game – enough to win the District 8-5A MVP honors.

She was a four-time All-District selection in high school – a player who personified the role of a student athlete, according to then-Terrebonne coach Greg Knox.

“Alaina is one of the best people you will ever meet,” Knox said during Verdin’s senior season. “She is a champion at heart – on and off the floor. She has been a joy to coach and she’s everything you expect for a young student-athlete to be.”


Verdin signed with McNeese and enjoyed success – even while battling multiple injuries.

As a freshman in 2010-11, Verdin played 13 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury, which sidelined her for 2011-12.

From there, she finished her career in style, helping the Cowgirls hold their mark as one of the top programs in the Southland Conference.


Verdin said toward the end of her playing career at McNeese, she started to study coaches and tried to mold her own personality after the great ones she’d observed. She said she hopes to take a lot of her knowledge to McNeese.

“Being a good coach takes a lot of hard work – more so off the court,” Verdin said. “You have to work hard in the community to get fans in the stands. You have to learn how to raise money so that your program can do its part to provide everything the student athlete needs. … A good college coach will make sure that student athletes leave the program not only with knowledge of the game but most importantly also a strong-willed mindset that’s prepared for the real world and to be successful.”

With the Cowgirls, a lot of Verdin’s role will be to get players who can thrive – a responsibility which may take her into Houma from time-to-time.


Verdin said she’s McNeese’s recruiting coordinator, which means it’s her job to spend countless hours visiting players from various high schools all around the South.

She said her personal philosophy will be to target Louisiana players, because she believes the state is rich with talent.

“It’s good to keep your talent right here at home,” Verdin said.


Verdin said she also has her eyes on a lot of the programs in the Houma-Thibodaux area and is hopeful to bring some of the area’s best to Lake Charles over time.

“I’m willing to give young ladies the opportunity to step out and accomplish something bigger than what this stereotyped society has to offer,” Verdin said. “I will certainly be able to recruit in that area. … I love Houma. I know the people there and the talent the area has.”

Alaina Verdin


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