Picard steps down as Erath baseball coach

ERATH - The most successful baseball coach at Erath High School has stepped down, as of Thursday.
Jeremy Picard, who has been a non-faculty head baseball coach for the EHS baseball program, met with EHS Principal Marc Turner on Thursday and turned in his resignation.
“I learned Thursday that Coach Picard was resigning as head baseball coach,” said Turner. “The disappointment has created havoc in a community amongst parents, players, and baseball fans. These players respect and love Jeremy. The void with his leaving will have an impact on the entire EHS athletic community.”
Picard made his announcement on his Facebook Page on Thursday night.
Picard wrote: “Four years ago I embarked on a new journey in hopes to make a program better then I found it, and with the hope that I could help the athletes that came through my program become better young men. As of today, I have decided it is in the best interest of my self and my family to step down as the Head Baseball Coach at Erath. This decision for me was one of the toughest I have ever made, but one I felt needed to be made as certain stipulations have been made by our school board that has now made it virtually impossible for a non-faculty coach to be a head coach or any type of coach in our parish.”
In his four years at EHS, he posted a record of 95-49. Erath averaged 23 wins and a playoff berth each year. This past year, the Bobcats posted a 27-7 record and 11-1 in district. They reached the second round of the Class 3A playoffs for the fourth year in a row.
“Erath Baseball will always hold a special place in my heart, and I wish them continued success,” said Picard.
Recently the school board adopted a new policy when it comes to paying high school non-faculty coaches.
The new policy puts a cap on how much non-faculty coaches can be paid.
A non-faculty head baseball coach can be paid up to $3,157 and an assistant non faculty coach can be paid up to $2,368.
It is the same pay scale for non faculty softball, track, power lifting, soccer, wrestling and volleyball coaches.
The school board also created a policy saying a non-faculty coach can not receive funds from a booster club, as well as, the school. The volunteer coach has to select which pay method he or she wants to receive.
Turner added, “Coach Picard shared that his resignation comes from pressure and changes implemented by a VPSB vote that created a policy for non-faculty coaches and sponsors. He expressed that the new policy is not cohesive with the ability to run a top notch, disciplined program inclusive of being able to fundraise and manage a program. “
The Meridional contacted Picard for an explanation as to why he stepped down.
“This decision was never about the money,” said Picard. “It was about being able to do all the things necessary to build and run a successful program and with the stipulations put in place by the school board, that would not allow me to continue to run the type of program I feel Erath baseball has become.”
As of Friday, he was not willing to release the name of who will be the head baseball coach.
“I will have to regroup internally with our athletic director and coaching staff to vet out details and determine who will run the program. This is not a decision that will be made immediately,” Turner said.