Vermilion Catholic has new head softball coach, receiver coach

  The Vermilion Catholic Eagles have a new head softball and wide receivers coach.
Jason Lopez joined the VC family in July.  Aside from coaching, he teaches seventh and eighth-grade Social Studies as well as high school English.
Lopez is a 1997 graduate of Rayne High School.  He then attended both UL-Lafayette and LSU before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history from UL in 2001.  From there, Lopez went to law school.  That decision led to his first experience with Abbeville.
Lopez is a 1997 graduate of Rayne High School.  He then attended both UL-Lafayette and LSU before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history from UL in 2001.  From there, Lopez went to law school.  That decision led to his first experience with Abbeville.
  “I went to law school for a year and figured out that I really hated that,” Lopez said.  “I actually lived in Abbeville for a year after that.  I was working offshore and lived on State Street.  It’s wild because I didn’t think I’d ever be back, but you never know what life has in store for you.”
 Lopez then decided to join the United States Army, where he enjoyed a career spanning over 20 years.  He earned his master’s degree in history from LSU in 2012 before earning a second master’s degree in military studies from Marine Corps University in 2016.  He is currently a doctoral candidate in war studies at the Royal Military College of Canada.
Lopez is married to Noel Lopez.  She is an ER nurse from Raleigh, North Carolina. 
 Together, they had five children.  Landri is the oldest at 21.  She’s a senior in college.  Jackson would be 19, but he unfortunately passed away.  Andrew is 16 and is a junior tackle on the football team at VC.  Emma is 13 in the eighth grade at VC.  She’s a softball player.  The caboose is Cooper.  He is six years old and in the first grade at VC.
When he decided it was time to retire from the Army, Louisiana, and a school where he and all his kids could be at the same time were his requirements.  When he interviewed with VC, the school not only fulfilled the bare minimum, but it also far exceeded his expectations.
 “We were looking for our next job after retirement, and my wife said she’d really like to live in Louisiana,” Lopez said.  “I had to check her for a fever because it’s melt-your-face hot here in August.  But it’s family first, and my mom, grandma, and brother all still live here.
 “I did my interview, and the kids did their shadowing in the Spring, and it was a perfect fit.  I constantly pinch myself, and I’m not exaggerating.  The kids, the families, and the environment are just amazing.  My kids and I wake up every day excited to go to school.  Every day is a blessing.”
 Being a military family, the Lopezs know a thing or two about schools.  They’ve lived in nine different states over the years.  Emma, the eighth grader, has attended six other schools. 
“VC is a special place,” Lopez said.  “With our military experience, we’ve been to good schools with great education and great athletic programs, but none of them have checked every box the way VC does.  We’re beyond blessed to be here.”
Lopez is currently focused on the football team, but he also has his eye on the upcoming softball season.  This will be his first head coaching job at the high school level, but he has coached his daughters in travel ball for 20 years.
 “I’m looking forward to working with these girls in this environment where everyone is bought in,” Lopez said.  I had the opportunity to interact with some of them, and they are excited.  They’re looking forward to a new face and a new coaching style.”
 Lopez believes his family has found their forever home.  If he has his way, they will be staples of the VC community for years to 
“I’m a loyal guy,” Lopez said.  “When we find something that works, we like to stick to it.  This is a special place, and we’d like to stay here as long as they’ll have us.”