Lafayette Christian remains in the Acadiana area to find a new director of football operations and head football coach, hiring Zach Rochard from Breaux Bridge High School.
Rochard, who spent the past two seasons as the Tigers' head coach, will take over one of the best football programs in the state.
“LCA is known throughout the state as one of the elite football programs of our time, with some of the most talented athletes in any sport,” Rochard said in a statement from the school. “The opportunity to join the current staff and work within this administration and this atmosphere has been a dream come true.”
Lafayette Christian, which is relegated to Division IV after playing in Division II each of the past two seasons, has reached the state finals across three divisions for seven consecutive years. During that time, the Knights won the state championship four times and were state runners-up three times.
Rochard replaces Hunter Landry, who resigned from LCA in January to become head football coach at Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy.
In his two seasons at Breaux Bridge, Rochard led the Tigers to a 12-13 record and two playoff appearances. In his first year on the job, Rochard led the Tigers to the Division II non-selection quarterfinals after reaching the playoffs as a No. 28 seed.
This past season, the Tigers went 6-6 overall but lost to Assumption in the regional round of the playoffs.
“I have always been vocal about my faith and my love for Jesus Christ,” Rochard said in a statement. “I can already envision myself being here for the next 30 years. I can't wait to hit the ground running.”
Rochard, who was the head coach at Patterson for two seasons before Breaux Bridge, will bring two top coaches to LCA. Rochard will bring in former UL Ragin' Cajuns player Tyrell Fenroy as the Knights' offensive coordinator and Trevalance Patt as the defensive assistant coach. Venroy and Pat both worked with Rochard at Breaux Bridge.
In four years with the Cajuns, Fenroy, 35, was named All-Sun Belt Conference four times (second team in 2005, first team from 2006-2008). In 2008, Fenroy rushed for 1,375 yards and 19 touchdowns and was named SBC Player of the Year and a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award. Fenroy, whose No. 32 jersey was retired by UL before the final game against the Cajuns, is the school's all-time rushing leader with 4,646 yards.
Pat was named second-team All-Sun Belt following his junior season in 2013, recording 57 tackles (43 solo), one interception, and 12 pass breakups. His 13 passes defensed were second-most in the conference.
“These are two men of high character and integrity,” Rochard said. “Tyrell and Trev are great leaders and role models, and we feel it's very important to have men like that to get our kids where we want them to be, both on and off the field.”
