By T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal
Larry Cordaro has spent the past nine seasons relishing in the success of his basketball coaching stint at LSU-Alexandria.
But on Monday, Cordaro shifted into a bit of football mode in calling an audible, or a baseball mode in throwing a change-up curveball, as he announced via social media that he will not return as head coach of the Generals next season.
That came after LSUA athletics’ director Tyler Unsicker announced that Cordaro will not return as head coach of the Generals.
The Ruston High School graduate was the first and only head coach in LSUA men’s basketball history, leading them to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championship game in 2017 – where they lost on a 3-pointer at the buzzer — and compiling an overall record of 224-50, going 107-10 at home and leading them to eight NAIA National Tournaments.
While the idea initially may not have been his own, Cordaro said he realized the time was right. After all, what else could he do, except continue leading teams to the national tournament and hopefully win it all at some point? Administrators changed. Philosophies changed. Cordaro and the Generals didn’t. They kept producing, in a big way.
But was Cordaro really growing in his role? While widely respected in Rapides Parish not only as a coach, but a community leader and man of faith, his basketball acumen needed stimulation.
“I was checking the same boxes off year after year at LSUA,” Cordaro said. “I just felt like it was time for me to learn from somebody else. Take a different class.
“It’s just time for a change. Time to let somebody else put their footprint on this program and give a young guy or somebody else an opportunity. That’s what I’m hoping to do myself.
He helped develop seven players into professional athletes, guiding his team to eight national tournament appearances, five regular-season titles, three conference tourney championships, two Final Four appearances while also reaching the NAIA title game six years ago.
Why now? Codaro isn’t as concerned with that as he is with finding out what his next step will be. He has a clean slate, with an impressive resume, as he takes an unanticipated leap of faith. Ten days ago, he Tweeted about recruiting his 10th Generals team. Now he’ll clean out his office and look for a new one, in a new gym.
“I don’t know if there’s ever a good time in this business to make a change like this,” Cordaro said. “I’m a spiritual guy and try to listen to the Spirit. I just felt like now is the time to do something different, step out of my comfort zone and to try my body of work, the network that I’ve built over the last 23 seasons coaching college basketball.”
“And I don’t know what that will be yet. I don’t have any birds in the hand right now. There’s probably two or three in the bush that hopefully I can grab. I’ve talked to a lot of coaches today,” he said Monday. “It’s been a very emotional, humbling day with the number of phone calls and texts I’ve been bombarded with. There are no definite job opportunities yet, but news that I’m now in the market so to speak will help me with that next opportunity because now people know that I’m actually available.”
Cordaro said he’s been close to taking other opportunities in recent years. He interviewed for head coaching posts at Southeastern Louisiana, where he had previously been an assistant, and at Grambling.
“But now it’s kind of like sink or swim,” Cordaro said. “I’m in full pursuit to see who’s next out there for me and what program I can assist or lead.”
Cordaro said he has had a few people ask if he’s getting out of coaching altogether.
“I responded with a one-word message in all caps – NEVER,” Cordaro said. “I hope I get to coach as long as I can stand, walk and see. Coaches change. It’s part of our industry. It’s odd to change after such a successful run, but it’s where we are today and I’m ready to see what next is out there for me.
“It doesn’t have to be as a head coach. It doesn’t have to be in state. Change is about growth and that’s what this is for me. I just want to kind of expand my basketball resume, knowledge and expertise. I just came to realize that the time feels right.”