St. Mary’s Catholic School announced the appointment of Coach Layne Huckabay as the new head coach of both the Tigers and Lady Tigers varsity basketball teams.

A native of Coushatta, Louisiana, Coach Huckabay brings with him a wealth of experience, a passion for the game, and a proven record of turning programs around. He is a 2002 graduate of Riverdale Academy, where he was a key member of the 2000 South A State Championship team.

Coach Huckabay earned his degree in General Studies from Northwestern State University, where he also gained valuable collegiate coaching experience as a student assistant for the Lady Demons from 2008 to 2011.

In 2012, he joined the Centenary College women’s basketball staff as an assistant coach. During his first season, the program saw a dramatic improvement — jumping from a single win the previous year to 10 wins under his guidance.

Most recently, Coach Huckabay led the varsity girls’ program at Central Christian Academy. When he took over, the team had not recorded a win in six years. In just his first season, he guided them to three victories, and by the following year, the team notched eight wins and earned a spot in the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.

Coach Huckabay and his wife, Hannah, were married in 2012 and are proud parents to two daughters, Lillian (11) and Payton (9). The Huckabay family is excited to become part of the extended St. Mary’s community as he begins this new chapter.

“We are confident that Coach Huckabay’s dedication, leadership, and coaching philosophy will bring energy and continued growth to our basketball programs,” said Coach Dennis Breland, Athletic Director.  “His ability to build competitive and character-driven teams aligns perfectly with the values of St. Mary’s Catholic School.”

Please join us in welcoming Coach Huckabay to St. Mary’s!

For more information about St. Mary’s Catholic School, contact the school office at (318) 352-8394 or visit www.smstigers.org.