NEW CHIEF: Riley takes over HLB football program

Joe Riley isn’t a yeller.

But according to H.L. Bourgeois athletic director Andrew Caillouet, his new head football coach doesn’t need a booming voice to command the respect of his players.

“The kids will definitely take notice when Joe speaks,” Caillouet said. “If someone steps out of line, he’s going to know that he broke a rule and the rule will be implemented.”

The announcement of Riley’s hire came during last week’s Terrebonne Parish School Board meeting. The 28-year-old Nicholls State graduate beat out five other candidates to earn a position vacated by Randy Boquet in November.

Boquet resigned after citing philosophical differences with school administration shortly after guiding H.L. Bourgeois to an 8-3 overall record and its second district title in three seasons.

Riley worked as the offensive line coach during the six seasons Boquet called the shots.

“I was here when Boquet first got here (as head coach), so I feel like I’ve been a major part of everything that has been going on,” he said. “Coach Boquet did a great job when he was here because he had some quality assistants like myself and some of the other coaches. A lot of times, the head coaches get all of the recognition while the assistants continue to keep everything rolling. Now I’d like to add some assistants that can help make me look good also.”

In addition to his time with the Braves, Riley’s coaching resume includes a brief stint at Thibodaux High School (spring of 2002) and a season as a graduate assistant at Nicholls State (2001).

He draws knowledge from a luminous playing background that took him from Amite County High School (Miss.) to Southwest Mississippi Community College (as a nose guard and offensive tackle) and finally to the Colonels, where he started at center during the team’s 1999 and 2000 campaigns.

Nonetheless, he wasn’t just another name on the varsity roster. Riley reaped Academic All-Southland Conference honors as a junior and senior and capped off his collegiate career with an All-Southland Conference Honorable Mention nod during his final season.

Head coaching is uncharted territory for Riley, but he’s ready for the challenge.

And quite comfortable.

“The one and only reason I wanted the job at HLB is because of the kids we have,” Riley said. “I’ve become acclimated with the kids and their rapport with me is second to none.”

That, including his background, went into the evaluation process.

“Joe is a very articulate guy who cares tremendously for our student athletes,” Caillouet said.

Riley doesn’t plan on altering the program’s propensity for the Wing-T – an offense that was very good to the Braves in 2007. The return of junior running backs Jereme Lagarde and Caleb Williams could help H.L. Bourgeois’ ground attack remain prolific next fall, as both rushers have the ability to eclipse 1,000 yards.

“We’ve proven over the past couple of years that we were really good at something, and we’ll continue to do that (Wing-T),” he explained. “I’m going to add a few things to that to make us better, and we’ll put the ball into the hands of some of the playmakers we have here and continue what we’ve started.”

However, shoring up an inexperienced offensive line that returns only one starter will be a definite challenge. Riley will also need to shift more of his focus to defense.

But most importantly, he’ll work toward making his players better people.

“We’re ultimately trying to prepare kids to go on to college and, for those less fortunate, the game of life,” Riley said.

This will come through discipline – something that can be achieved without the malicious bark of a coach.

“We’re not going to walk on and off the field anymore,” he said. “We will always run. In practice, we will always be hustling from drill to drill with no one dragging behind.

You can ask any of the kids who’ve been around me. Whenever I speak, it’s time to get busy.”