Dupre tapped as Vandy’s football coach

After almost two decades as an assistant or coordinator, Walter Dupre will stroll Vandebilt Catholic’s sidelines this fall as head football coach.

Vandebilt named Dupre, 42, its new head coach last Tuesday. He will also work as an assistant principal, overseeing extracurricular activities.

“I’m excited about the challenge,” he said. “I’m looking forward to keeping this program moving in the direction it was moving in the last few years.”

Dupre was named interim coach after Mark King resigned May 2 to take an oil-field company sales job. In the interim role, Dupre’s first mission was to guide the Terriers through spring practices.

Before becoming head coach, Dupre spent 10 years as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator at Terrebonne High under Pat Kee. He has served the same roles at Vandebilt since 2000; his last fours years were spent in the coordinator’s post.

“We (former Vandebilt coach Brad Villavaso and King) were basically running coach Kee’s offense from back in the Terrebonne days when we were all back there,” he said.

Josh Constant will replace Dupre as offensive coordinator, while John Enfinger will remain the defensive coordinator.

Vandebilt went 11-2 last season and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 4A playoffs. Dupre’s biggest challenge this summer will be filling 13 starter spots, including the entire offensive line, from that team.

“We have quality leadership in our seniors and juniors,” he said. “We’re expecting to win over here now, and I think the players are buying into that. So the attitude and focus is good.”

The next goal is winning Vandebilt its first district title since 2002, the coach said. Standing in the Terriers’ way last season was Archbishop Shaw and it will likely be an obstacle again in 2008.

“Shaw has played for the state championship the last two years,” Dupre said. “Being in the same district with them has been a challenge. We got close last year (losing 38-28). We’ve got to break that door down first before we start thinking about winning district championships.”

Dupre is not bedeviled by the high expectations Terrier fans have based on last season’s success. He only worries about continuity and steady progress of his team.

“If you keep playing at the consistent level we’ve been playing at, the playoffs will take care of itself,” he noted.