March 9, 2005

Cazeaux takes the helm of the Tigers

By Andrew Hickman
Contributing Writer
(Photo by ERIC LEBLANC)

After four straight Catholic league titles, 10 consecutive playoff appearances, and a state championship, what is left for Frank Cazeaux? The answer, to do it all again. With the unexpected departure of former head coach Mark Sims, the Hahnville Tigers were in the market for an adequate replacement for the vacant head baseball coaching position. They got more then they bargained for in former Rummel coach, Frank Cazeaux. Cazeaux, 43, has spent his entire life around the game of baseball and does not see that changing for a long time.

The Tigers’ season came to an abrupt halt against the eventual state champions, the St. Amant Gators, in the second round of the playoffs last year. But with only two seniors graduating, the Tigers had only positives to look toward the upcoming Legion season, where they sealed a second place finish and a bye to the Regional Tournament. But that second place finish came with great struggle as the team learned that their head coach would not be returning for the next week, or at all. There was an opening in Sims' hometown of Monroe, Louisiana at Ouachita Parish High School for head baseball coach. Within a matter of days the job was offered, accepted, and finalized and the search for a replacement began. The Otto Candies-based Tigers, finished legion under assistant coach George Bode and he led the team to two tournament victories. But an ironic pickup game against Rummel before the tournament left a lot of speculation as to who would fill Sims' shoes.

Word began circulating throughout St. Charles Parish that Cazeaux was among the handful of applicants for the opening. And for once, this time the rumor was true. "When the job opened up, I called Mrs. Fuselier and she expressed some interest in me and right away I knew I wanted to apply," said Cazeaux. He spoke of his "second thoughts" but later stated his decision was made when his Rummel Raiders played the Tigers in Legion. "Honestly what made me change my mind about this job was the day we played Hahnville in American Legion. I saw the way the Tigers conducted themselves like baseball players; the good fans, and gorgeous facilities just made the decision a little easier."

But Cazeaux still had to leave his life at Rummel behind and the task of telling his players about his decision still stared him in the face. Even though this opening at Hahnville would allow him to deal with his personal issues at his discretion, it was still difficult to leave the program he spent the last decade and a half at.

One of five children, Frank Cazeaux was born in New Orleans, to the proud parents Terry and Donald. Cazeaux began playing baseball at the young age of five and has not looked back since. He spent some of his time doing what he feels is the best thing that's ever happened to him, coaching.

"In my early childhood all I did was play ball." Just before his high school years at Rummel began, he found a niche coaching at Jefferson Playground at age 14. By 16, Frank began coaching at St. Agnes Grammar School where he himself attended just a few years before. "I would miss practices for basketball when I was at Rummel, to go coach at St. Agnes, like if we had a game I'd go coach."

After graduating from Rummel in 1980, Cazeaux's next step was toward the collegiate level. He then attended William Carey College in Mississippi where he studied Physical Education but would also play baseball. Frank had a very successful career there, claiming two national records in NAIA history. In 1983, Cazeaux collected 11 saves and appeared in 32 games which at the time became national NAIA records. Now these records have since then been broken but it was an accomplishment he will never forget.

After college Cazeaux wasted no time figuring out what he was going to do. "Right after college I went right away into coaching and teaching at Crescent City Baptist, where I was head football and baseball coach." A spot opened at Riverdale High School that he filled for only a year and found his way back to Crescent City. After bouncing around from school to school, the job he had always wanted finally opened up.

"I've always wanted to coach at Rummel, and I felt I was ready when this position opened." And ready he was. Cazeaux's resume at Rummel is definitely something to be proud of. Ironically his stretch of four consecutive District Championships did not include the years he played for the State Championship. Of course he claims none of this would have been possible without some key role models in his early years.

Cazeaux's influences came from a list of very special individuals when it comes to the sport of baseball. His coach at Rummel, Wally Pontiff Sr., and Louis Scheurman, now the coach of Delgado, claim to have had the greatest impact from that actual standpoint of players in the game. But none compare to what his father meant to him throughout his life. Cazeaux spent his childhood idolizing Kenter Colby, a submarine-style pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. And to this day, Coach Cazeaux still wears that same number on the back of his jersey. Which is why this season will feature some new uniforms for the Hahnville Tigers. The old ones did not contain number 27.

So the question remains, why leave Rummel? "I felt like I did all that I could do there. My reason to be a coach is to build programs. That's what I enjoy doing. It's not about winning or losing, it's about having a top notch program year in and year out." And building a top notch program at Hahnville is something that Cazeaux sees as a very reachable goal. "I'm going to adjust to the needs of the players, but at the same time my style of coaching isn't going to change. It's something I've been successful with over the years and just as we have to meet their needs, the players have to adapt to what we do as coaches."

But make no mistake, Frank Cazeaux plans on doing whatever it takes to build a program that he feels can be successful year in and year out. "I want to try to win a state championship every year, that's my goal. I'm very competitive as a coach and I expect my players to be competitive." Although the life of a coach at a school or organization is subject to change almost instantly, Cazeaux expects his life at Hahnville to be prosperous. "As long as I'm enjoying myself, I plan on staying here. And right now, I'm really enjoying myself. I actually had the opportunity to take a coaching job with Coach Bode at Gulf Coast Community College, but I was told the only thing they do up there is jet ski. So I come down here and all the players do is hunt and fish."

Those remarks come with the knowledge of a team who has played together for quite some time now. The Tigers will return eight starters this season with seven of the eight leading the way as seniors. Those seniors include infielder Steven Burns, pitcher\infielder Jordan Brown, outfielder Jessie Dunn, pitcher Brad Fonseca, outfielder Daron Friloux, outfielder\pitcher Charlie Harrell, catcher Andrew Hickman, catcher Chris Lanaux, outfielder Ryne Madere, and outfielder\pitcher Aramie Melancon.