UP CLOSE: Shepard leads flock of swimmers in pool

The Bayou Barracudas swimming team has experienced several name changes over the past two decades, but its commitment to excellence has remained remarkably consistent.

The year-round program draws young talent from Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Charles and St. Mary parishes and maintains a sterling reputation across the state of Louisiana.

Much of the Barracudas’ success can be attributed to Frank Shepard, a man who brings 48 years of coaching experience to the organization.

The Tri-Parish Times caught up with Shepard last week to talk about life, both in and outside of the pool.

Tri-Parish Times: So you have 48 years of coaching experience under your belt. Are we allowed to ask your age?

Frank Shepard: I’m 66 years old.

TPT: After reading your bio, I see that you coached in Iran? What was that all about?

FS: Was hired by their government to come over there and work with their national team. They brought all of the coaches in from all over the country and I worked with them for 12 weeks teaching them how we coach in the United States.

In the process, I coached their national team to help them and after 12 weeks they went back to the various parts of their country to coach their national teams. We broke something like 26 national records in that 12-week period I was over there.

TPT: When did this happen?

FS: Before the Ayatollah took over.

TPT: Bet it was an eye-opening experience.

FS: It was a different culture. You have a city like Tehran that has a big modern building here, and right next to it you see natives washing their clothes in the gutters on the street. The people were super nice, and it’s too bad. They are very pro-American. It’s just the leadership that is anti-American.

TPT: Tell me a little about the Bayou Barracudas organization.

FS: We have a lot of individuals who have won state titles and won medals at a national level. We have a lot of scholarships and several high school all-Americans over the years and All-Americans in college. Our best year was in 1994. We came up 22 points shy of winning the state title.

That year we were also leasing a pool in New Orleans and had a team membership of about 120 kids. Now we have less than 40 kids, and it’s tough to compete against the teams that have 200-300 kids.

TPT: You still have to be proud of the winning tradition they bring to the pool. Anything in particular you could tell me about this year’s team?

FS: We’ll do OK. We stay in the top eight every year. All the teams that beat us are well over 100 kids.

Going into last year’s state meet, we had 36 kids training with us at the time, and we took all but two kids to state. Everyone who went scored.

TPT: Any other sports you follow besides swimming?

FS: I follow water polo. I also like football n pro and college.

TPT: We’re you pleased with the Saints finish last year?

FS: Outstanding season. Just hope it wasn’t a fluke.

TPT: Spider Man 3 is the big movie this summer. Have any plans to see it?

FS: I haven’t been to a movie in so long. Occasionally I’ll rent a video, but I rarely get to the movies. Our program starts in the morning and last until the evening.

TPT: Do you do anything interesting in your spare time?

FS: (Laughs) I don’t have any spare time. We work five days a week here and on the weekend we travel for water polo or swimming. I go fishing occasionally.

TPT: Is there anything about you that people might be surprised to find out?

FS: When they meet me they find that I’m a really a nice guy. (Laughs) Reputation-wise, they think I’m not a nice guy, but I really am.

Staff photo by CHRIS SCARNATI • Tri-Parish Times * Bayou Barracudas coaches Frank Shepard and Duane Ring.