Legendary coach plans to say goodbye this year

If Raymond “Chip” Didier had his way 33 years ago, he would have been a high school baseball coach.

But fate decided he belonged on the sidelines of a high school volleyball court and not in a dugout.

Thousands of young ladies in the Bayou Region have benefited, having learned volleyball under his tutelage.

However, at age 56, the two-time high school state champion coach has decided to retire from prep volleyball after the end of the 2009 season, his 11th with the Terrebonne Lady Tigers.

“I’ve done as much as I think I can do with volleyball. It’s time for me to do some other things,” Didier said. “I want every day to be a Saturday. I love the outdoors, hunting and fishing. My wife and I want to do some traveling. I want to do some things I can’t do on a regular basis.”

Didier won state titles in 1987 and 1989 at H. L. Bourgeois High and has been state runner-up twice, 1984 at South Terrebonne High and 1992 at Bourgeois.

He also coached the Nicholls State Lady Colonels volleyball team for six years (1993-98), compiling a 94-114 record. He still holds the best winning percentage in school history (.452).

Didier informed Terrebonne’s players of his decision last month. Although they hate to see him leave, he doesn’t want his retirement to be a rallying point for the upcoming season.

“This team is not about me. They know I’m retiring. That’s not the most important thing,” he said. “I want them to play for themselves and for Terrebonne and for them to do the best that they can.”

With six seniors returning to a Lady Tigers squad that shared the District 6-I title and advanced to the second round of the LHSAA playoffs in 2008, Didier believes they have a chance to do better this year.

“They want to go out successful and I’m hoping to be a small part of that,” he said. “If those seniors work hard enough and the others work extremely hard, we could have a successful season. I think this is going to be a rewarding season just to watch them mature and become a very good team. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Didier got his first coaching job in 1976 at then Ellender Junior High School. He wanted to coach baseball, but at that time getting a coaching job was difficult in Terrebonne Parish schools, according to Didier.

Ellender principal Ernest Moss made him an offer that would change his life.

“They had just started volleyball, softball and girls’ basketball. He asked me to coach all three,” Didier recalled. “He said if I coached there that first year, got my feet wet and helped them out, he would try to get me a baseball job.”

“I was fortunate to have a volleyball team that had some very good talent that we developed,” he added. “Some of those junior high teams became very good. I loved the way the girls responded to coaching. They were hungry to learn. They were like sponges. They wanted to know everything.”

After four years, he moved on to South Terrebonne for a four-year reign as head coach. The Lady Gators made the playoffs all four years. They lost the 1984 state title game by two points in the third set to the state’s top team, Andrew Jackson High School.

Didier had his most success during his eight years (1984-92) at Bourgeois – eight playoff spots earned, three state championship game appearances and two state championships.

Deciding he needed a new challenge, Didier took the head volleyball coaching job at Nicholls in 1993. He put together four consecutive winning seasons from 1994-97. His best finish at Nicholls was second place in the Southland Conference tournament in 1997.

Wanting to get back into high school volleyball, he took the job at Terrebonne in 1998. Although he hasn’t been back to the state finals with the Lady Tigers, he still considers his time there to be the most fun of his coaching career.

Under Didier’s watch, Terrebonne has developed one of the state’s fiercest volleyball rivalries with H.L. Bourgeois and Assumption High.

The schools happen to be coached by two of Didier’s best friends, Peter Verrett III, who replaced him at Bourgeois, and Assumption’s Sandy Fussell.

“We work together, but we’re enemies when we play each other,” Didier said. “We admire each other. We’re constantly picking each other’s brains, calling each other, talking about different strategies. We coach clinics and camps together. We’ve practiced together before.

“Hopefully, we push our kids to the next level,” he added. “Our three programs have shown if you’re willing to coach and guide the kids, put the effort in, you can have a good program. (Verrett and Fussell) have helped me numerous times and I appreciate their help.”

Didier credits the growth in volleyball interest and talent locally to the Bayou Bandits club team he started over 15 years ago.

The Bayou Bandits, which consists of teams ranging from 10-under to 18-under, gives girls the opportunity to enhance their skills and fundamentals by playing year round.

“There’s a big difference between the talent level now and 15 years ago,” Didier said. “Now, our kids have a chance to compete against those from New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette who play year round.

“Last year we had 12 teams, about 120 girls. This year we’re looking to grow some more,” he added. “I’m excited about that and it’s all just about promoting volleyball. We’re making these young ladies the best they can be.”

Didier will continue to coach the Bayou Bandits after he leaves the high school team.

He is confident volleyball will continue to prosper when he walks away from the game for good. But he wants his legacy to expand beyond the hard court and into the lives of the players he has been able to coach.

“A lot of girls that have played the sport love it and will continue to keep volleyball successful in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes,” Didier said. “A lot of the young ladies I have coached have also been successful in life. I hope I had a little part in that. I tried to teach them to have good character and to be good productive citizens in our society.”