Knightly News

Each person holds so much power within themselves that needs to be let out. Sometimes they just need a little nudge, a little direction, a little support, a little coaching, and the greatest things can happen. 
​Pete Carroll – Seattle Seahawks Head

For decades, Episcopal coaches have been providing that little nudge, direction and support to student athletes. Volumes of research prove that being a part of a team has lifelong, positive impacts on athletes. The benefits students reap from interacting with a great coach are equally as impressive. Here are just a few personal examples from Episcopal alumni. 

"Coach Dupe was one of the most positive and beneficial influences in my life. Given the tremendous amount of time spent with him, he was a strong father figure, my father away from home. I did not really know it at the time, but there are several values and characteristics that he instilled. Coach Dupe expected nothing other than good moral character and sportsmanship. On a personal level, he weekly set goals for each of us and taught us the work ethic to obtain those goals. That is something I’ve known that provided me insight to obtaining goals throughout life. Coach Dupe is a voracious competitor motivator. Transferring that enthusiasm and confidence to young men lasts a lifetime. Without a doubt, I attribute my internal strive for excellence in all endeavors to Coach Dupe. A very influential man."

​Dr. Andrew Riche’ ’89 

"I believe good coaches convey the qualities of leadership and motivation. These life lessons were instilled in me by my Episcopal coaches. The coaches I am most grateful for are Brandon LeBlanc, Jack Coco, Andrew Wyly, and Claney Duplechin. As a husband, father and doctor, I still strive to live out these qualities on a daily basis."

​ Dr. Rubin Patel ’90  

"The impact coaches had on my life is that I was more than just an athlete to them. I often play golf with some of my coaches. Also the importance of team is something all the coaches harped on during my time at EHS."

​- Van Hiles ’93 

 "I had many coaches during my time at Episcopal, but my softball coach truly stands apart. She understood that she wasn’t just teaching us the fundamentals of the sport, she was instilling the values of discipline, compassion, and work ethic. As I approach the last year in my Dental Medicine Doctoral program, I call upon many of those values as I work with my patients.

As a pitcher you must keep cool under pressure and yet react quickly to the ever-changing situations present in the game. During the most tense of moments, I always knew I could rely on Coach Heidi to be my beacon. She knew the art of coaching and knew her players. She understood when to remain calm and when to skillfully put pressure on her players to extract the very best from them. To this day I look back on her actions and she is a role model in my life."

​Sara Portwood ’10

"Participating in athletics added a layer of depth to my education that I could not have found in the classroom. I learned the most about myself, what I am capable of, and how I could maintain persistence in the face of long-term dreams outside of class. And through the mentorship of my coaches, I gained both superb role models and lifelong friends.
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The most precious skill I learned through the athletics program is how to perform under pressure. As a law student graduating in the spring, this skill has proved absolutely invaluable."

​Danielle Maddox Kinchen ’11 

"Episcopal athletics was a one of a kind experience. Playing basketball and softball in high school made me look forward to something each and every day. Coach Heidi was a role model for me.  She truly cared about each player’s personal and athletic improvement in softball. She was not only someone I could go to on the field, but was someone I could go to off the field as well. Coach Heidi is dedicated to her job, and was not only my coach, but almost a second mom to me and other players as well. Looking back on Episcopal Athletics now as an alum makes me miss the camaraderie, teamwork, friendships, dedication and motivation as a team. Coach Heidi, Coach Kuhn, and Coach Bourgeois all made the Episcopal Athletics experience unique and special to me."

​Christy Brown ’15

Episcopal coaches and teachers are invested in student success. Walk the halls of Lower School and you will find that the same coach who runs out of the tunnel on football Friday nights directs a row of kindergarten students quietly toward the gym or the coach who led her team to the state volleyball playoffs is the same coach running drills with first graders in Phillips Gym.

“We like to believe that Episcopal has a physical education experience that serves each student’s physical development. Our coaches are professionals that have devoted their lives to teaching students how to develop and care for their body. They just so happen to also be members of our varsity coaching staff. Every day in almost every grade level, our coaches are teaching our students how to move, have proper form, and develop aspects of health to better each student’s life.  It’s in our best interest, as these are the same students that will fill out our athletic teams and put in the extra effort that is crucial in remaining a competitive program in Baton Rouge,” says Episcopal Athletic Director Randy Richard.

Members of the Episcopal coaching staff are highly-qualified professionals, who also know what it is like to be an athlete. “From master’s degrees to special certifications and collegiate and professional athletes, our staff are indeed experts in their field.  They have the experiences to know what it takes to be successful and the understanding of what truly matters in life. Beyond each of our coaches’ awards and accolades, they are good people that truly care for each and every student. Our students know this, respect this, and buy in to what we do and how we teach it.  This common bond of trust and respect is what often gives our teams the edge over other programs,” says Richard.

The impact of a coach on the lives of players goes well beyond wins and losses. Oftentimes, coaches are who alumni remember as going the extra mile, pushing them beyond their perceived limits and molding them into who they are today.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2024-2025 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.