In his first year as head coach, Lafayette Christian Academy’s Hunter Landry has his Knights football team off to a hot start.
LCA has begun the 2023 season with a 3-0 record after a 61-38 win over the Acadiana High Wreckin’ Rams, a 49-14 blowout over Woodlawn-B.R. on the road, and a 51-18 victory over the Jesuit Blue Jays at home.
The 30-year-old Landry began his coaching career at his alma mater in Breaux Bridge before going to LCA in 2018. After capturing a state title in his first year on staff, Landry went to Southside to work under Josh Fontenot. Following that 2019 season, he returned to the Knights program to be the offensive coordinator. He was named the head coach after Trev Faulk resigned last December.
Question: This is your first time being a head coach. What differences have you noticed compared to being an offensive coordinator?
Answer: I think now being in charge, everything falls underneath you. You’ve got to be involved in all three phases of the game, be on the same page with the coordinators, and make sure we’re prepared come Friday. It’s helped being around these kids because the adjustment was a pretty smooth transition.
Q: What have you learned from your time at Southside and Breaux Bridge that you are applying as head coach?
A: I’ve worked underneath some great coaches. It started off with Paul Broussard at Breaux Bridge High, then it went to Terry Martin and Chad Pourciau, and finished with Josh Fontenot at Southside. It was the little things that I’ve learned from all of them. Organization is a huge part of it. Being organized, understanding what you need to have accomplished for the week, and taking a little bit from them and putting my own little twist on things has made me who I am today.
Q: What has it been like coaching a highly recruited talent like Ju’Juan Johnson?
A: He gets a lot of attention and rightfully so. He does a lot of good things for us and is surrounded by a good group of skilled guys and an offensive line who have come together. At any time, he can take the game plan and run it successfully. His knowledge of the game has been an eye-opener for me with how he’s able to understand what we’re trying to accomplish and put it on display come Friday.
Q: Your defense has been pretty stingy when it comes to giving up points so far this season, how impressed have you been with this group?
A: Going into the season with a new defensive coordinator with Coach Kraft, there were some question marks from others but I knew what he was capable of. In week one you faced a really good Acadiana team and 38 points some will question but I know we faced a good team. We didn’t hit the panic button, we just came in that next week, got back to work, and the kids ever since have responded really well. I think the success speaks for itself.
Q: This team is off to a hot start but how far can the Knights go this season?
A: Right now, the message has been to focus on Ruston. It’s a big game just because it’s our next game. We try not to look down the road and focus on who we’re playing Friday and it just so happens to be Ruston. We’re going to have our hands full for sure. They present a big challenge on both sides of the ball, so we’re just trying to take care of Ruston and go on from there.
The Lafayette Christian Academy Knights will travel to Ruston to play the Blue Jays this Friday, September 22nd. The kickoff will be at 7:00 p.m.