By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
ALEXANDRIA – Larry Cordaro has achieved at LSU-Alexandria in two seasons what takes some basketball coaches an entire career to accomplish.
Since he came on board, he has led the program to its first-ever national tournament appearance, garnered the national coach of the year award and led the Generals to a No. 1 ranking in the polls of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
But even with the success he has experienced on the court, Cordaro knows his mission in life is much more than just winning a national championship. The ultimate prize, Cordaro emphasizes, is influencing the players Christ has entrusted to him – well beyond their basketball careers at LSUA.
“It’s more than about winning games,” said Cordaro, a member at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. “It’s about winning lives and making better men.”
From successful coach to Christ follower
A native of Ruston, Cordaro’s coaching career has included stops at LSU in Baton Rouge as director of basketball operations, University of Texas at Arlington as assistant coach and recruiting and player development as assistant coach and later associate head coach at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.
Cordaro celebrates with his players after winning the championship game of the Red River Conference Tournament in 2015.
Though he has experienced exceptional success as a coach throughout his young career, Cordaro admits the pressures of serving on those staffs took a toll and in June 2012 he reached a breaking point. While at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coaches Timeout conference, Cordaro realized his need for Christ and asked Him into his heart.
On Thanksgiving Day 2012 at First Baptist Church in Ruston, in front of family and friends, Cordaro followed his profession of faith with an act of obedience and was baptized. He realized that regardless of his success in coaching, he wanted to let others know of his passion for Christ and was ready to give an answer to whomever about why he was a Christ follower.
Three years later, at a banquet, during the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four weekend when he received his NAIA Coach of the Year award, he got that chance. Following his speech, someone stopped Cordaro and said they noticed he was a believer reminding him that others are noticing who he represents.
“That really opened up my eyes to what it’s all about – being not just a winning coach, but a Christian coach,” Cordaro said. “If that’s what I gained from that experience, that’s the best thing – to remind myself to be a Christian coach.
“It’s a platform I embrace and want to take advantage of at the appropriate times – not just to talk the talk but walk the walk,” he continued. “I know that eyes are watching and others can pick me apart if I’m not careful. Anyone who is a Christ follower, whether a coach in the limelight or someone working in an office building, must be sharp not to be one who’s just talking about their faith but showcasing it daily.”
Mentoring young men
When he took over at LSUA, Cordaro realized his players needed a positive role model in their lives. Though he strives to serve in that capacity, Cordaro realized these young men needed more than just his influence.
In 2015, Cordaro instituted a mentorship program.
Players at Louisiana State University-Alexandria enjoy a dinner with their mentors at a restaurant. When Larry Cordaro became head men’s basketball coach, he realized his players needed a positive role model in their lives. Though he strives to serve in that capacity, Cordaro realized these you men needed more than just his influence on their lives.
Each of the 25 players combined on the varisty and junior varsity squads is paired with a Christian man from one of the area’s various churches. Throughout the course of the season, the mentor will send the player encouraging and inspirational text messages, visit with him over a cup of coffee, attend basketball games, invited the player over for a meal with his family and attend several large group team events.
DeAngelo Coleman, a senior point guard from McComb, Miss., said the relationship with his mentor, LSU baseball legend Warren Morris, has helped him become a better man.
“My mentor has helped me through life situations and when I hear from him, his encouragement helps me get through a tough school day,” Coleman said. “I have learned so much from him and feel like I am a part of the family.”
Morris, a member at Calvary Baptist Church, said his family has enjoyed getting to know Coleman and cheering him on at basketball games.
“I try to provide encouragement and support for him from time to time throughout the week whether it be a text of congratulations, an uplifting Bible verse or a relaxing meal with my family,” Morris said. “As with most college students, and especially college athletes, these guys are very busy.
“But hopefully with each player having a Christian man here locally speaking into their lives, it helps them know that they are being prayed for and important,” he continued. “And the ultimate goal is to point the glory to God.”
Brian Sylvester, a junior forward from Breaux Bridge, compared his relationship with mentor Matt Shearin as that between two brothers. Shearin, youth pastor at Christian Worship Center in Alexandria, communicates with Sylvester almost every day, sometimes sending a text message with a Bible verse, and other times just sitting around with Sylvester with family at home.
“It feels great knowing that no matter what, I can call him and talk on the phone for hours about anything,” Sylvester said. “Though we’ve only known each other for a few months, it seems like I’ve known him for years.”
Blueprint for success
The mentor program is just one aspect of a bigger picture for the men’s LSUA basketball players. Cordaro uses one book as the blueprint his program emulates – the Bible.
Cordaro said the Bible contains so many valuable lessons such as hard work and service that can equate to the kind of success the Generals have experienced in just two seasons of the program’s existence. Their hard work in practices has included winning a conference championship, owning a perfect record at home through Feb. 18 and defeating Division I teams Southeastern Louisiana University and Northwestern State University. Their commitment to service has included visiting Rapides Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Alexandria, spending time with students at Carter C. Raymond Elementary School in Alexandria and volunteering at the Food Bank of Central Louisiana.
If his team continues to institute those values, Cordaro believes they have a chance of being the final team standing, referencing the championship game of the NAIA national tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. But even if they fail to become national champions, Cordaro hopes that his team will leave an impact on those whom they come in contact with in Alexandria and beyond.
“I tell our players God works for us in ways we don’t even know,” Cordaro said. “He had something specially designed or destined to occur here in Alexandria to kind of catch people’s attention and let them know our Lord and Savior is living and is ever present.
“I tell them about being confident, not cocky, in our victories,” he continued. “He can do powerful things with ordinary people that follow Him and serve Him. We try to help our players, to teach them a better way as Christ would. When we won the conference championship last year, the first thing I told them is it’s just a game, there are more important things going on in our lives. What Christ has done in my life is unbelievable and I want these guys to have this type of opportunity to one day have the opportunity to impact others the same way.”
