Pick Cordaro to replace Piper

Emma Hebert
April 7, 2016
3 sought for attempted murder
April 7, 2016
Emma Hebert
April 7, 2016
3 sought for attempted murder
April 7, 2016

In the next few weeks, Nicholls State University Athletic Director Rob Bernardi will scour the country in hot pursuit of his next basketball coach.


The options are seemingly endless. With more than 300 basketball-playing Division I schools, there are literally thousands of head and assistant coaches that the Colonels can reach out to, if they choose to do so.

But while Bernardi and his closest confidants turn over every stone in sight between here and Alaska to try to find the next national gem, it’s my personal opinion that Nicholls’ answer is pretty close to home.

I think he’s an in-state guy. A quick search of GoogleMaps says that he coaches about 185 miles from Thibodaux – slightly north and west of the city.


He’s a guy that’s not in DI right now, but you’d never be able to tell, because his team is oozing with talent – so much so that they won multiple games against Southland Conference schools in the 2015-16 season.

Only the richest basketball enthusiasts will have guessed this by now, but 1100 percent endorse LSU-Alexandria’s Larry Cordaro to be the next men’s basketball coach at Nicholls State University.

Of course, my blessing means nothing on the surface, because I’m not sure if Cordaro is interested in the gig, nor if Bernardi is even aware of how quicKiy tne rising star is snooting up tnrougn tne coaching ranks.


But if the two could click, I think the men’s basketball program in Thibodaux would prosper.

Here’s why.

For starters, Cordaro is a winner. He’s had success at every, single place he’s ever been.


A native of Ruston, the budding young coach has Southland ties. He was an assistant coach at UT-Arlington early in his career, helping lead the Mavericks to two-straight NCAA Tournament berths during his time with the team.

He then served as an assistant coach at Southeastern Louisiana University, and helped mold the Lions into a team routinely near the top of the pack in the Southland.

During his run at Southeastern, Cordaro coached nine All-Southland Players and six All-Louisiana players. The Lions made the Southland Conference Tournament six times while he was an assistant with the team.


But perhaps the coach’s biggest magic has come with LSU-Alexandria, where he has turned the Generals into an instant power.

LSU-Alexandria has only had basketball for two seasons. Cordaro was the team’s inaugural coach.

In just their first season in school history, the Generals went 23-4, and won the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Title.


For his efforts, Cordaro was named the NAIA National Coach of the Year.

This past season, LSU-A was again a powerhouse, posting a 29-4 record, which included victories over both Southeastern and Northwestern State University.

Cordaro’s Generals were No. 1 in the national NAIA polls for a lot of the season – a run that made the team one of the favorites to win the National Championship.


But several key, late-season injuries halted the team in the Second Round of the NAIA National Championship Tournament.

If you’re just two years into your basketball program’s existence, and you’re disappointed in a second-round loss in the NAIA National Championship Tournament, I think it’s safe to say that your head coach is putting in work.

Cordaro has done exactly that throughout his career, and he deserves a bigger head coaching gig. Nicholls would be a perfect fit, especially because of his rich ties to the Southland.


He fits the mold, too – he’s the exact personality type that Bernardi said he wants in a new coach.

When asked by The Times this week about the qualities that Nicholls will seek in its new head-man, Bernardi said he wants a tireless recruiter and someone who can bring life and energy to the program.

Bernardi listed football coach Tim Rebowe as a personality-type he’d like to seek out – the type of guy who can unite the community, recruit Louisiana tirelessly and get people in the seats of Stopher Gymnasium.


Throughout his career, Cordaro has been a tireless recruiter – a coach who has deep relationships with high school coaches throughout Louisiana.

He has local reach, too. Cordaro currently has Ellender graduate Gibby Talbot on his roster at LSU-A. He said when Talbot transferred to LSU-A that the Houma-Thibodaux area is rich in talent.

Signing local kids was the one flaw that Piper had recently – missing out on Talbot, Lionheart Leslie, Nate Frye and several other top-tier products from the area.


Cordaro can bridge that gap and bring them back home.

I just hope he gets the chance.

Listen to me on this one, Rob. I’m pretty sure I got the answer to all of the university’s problems.


Bring in Cordaro.

He’s the guy Nicholls needs for its future.

Pick Cordaro to replace Piper


LSU-Alexandria head basketball coach Larry Cordaro coaches his team during a game this season. In two seasons with LSU-A, Cordaro has made the Generals Into an NAIA national powerhouse program.

COURTESY