By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

EDGARD — For 32 years, the same man has walked the sideline and called the shots for West St. John’s basketball program.

But no more.

Veteran Rams head boys basketball coach Antoine Edwards officially retired Thursday, ending his longtime run as head basketball coach and assistant football coach.

“All good things must eventually come to an end,” said Edwards.

Stepping into the role as new head basketball coach will be Edwards’ assistant, Lavanta Davis, who has been on staff since 2008.

Edwards guided West St. John to a state basketball championship in 2000, then brought the Rams back to the state finals in 2005, where WSJ finished as state runner-up. He’s coached a multitude of district champions.

“It just came to me one day, and I decided that it was time to call it,” said Edwards. “I told them that this is what I was thinking about doing back in March … Just being out there with these kids, as they competed and practiced, and giving back and helping them along in that way is something I’ll cherish and miss.

“It wasn’t about wins and losses as the end all, be all, not to me. It was about helping these young guys turn into men.”

West St. John athletic director Robert Valdez said that Edwards has represented the school with great dignity.

“(Edwards) is a great gentleman, a first-class individual,” said Davis. “He’s been a very strong ambassador for our community.”

He said that Davis was his choice to take over the head coaching role due to his work ethic and familiarity with the kids in the program.

“He’s a very hardworking, disciplined young coach,” said Valdez. “He has a world of experience playing and coaching.

“Opposed to going out and making a long, drastic search, I felt that here already, we had a gentleman who knows these kids and already has a relationship with them.”

Davis, 34, said that he looks forward to the opportunity, first thanking Edwards for his guidance.

“He let me come in and contribute and I’ll always be grateful for that,” he said. “I’m really excited. He’s left me a very good group of young kids.

Prior to joining East St. John, Davis was an assistant at Istrouma, and before that, Scotlandville. This is his first head coaching opportunity.

He said that he hopes to help guide West St. John back to the level it was in 2000 and 2005.

“This is a football school. Most of our kids play both sports,” said Davis. “I’ve got to commend them. They’ve been giving up their summer and coming in to work, doing their part to build our program back up.”

In addition to his experience as basketball coach, Edwards is one of the people most well-equipped to discuss the Rams’ great history in football. He has coached linebackers, defensive line and offensive line play as an assistant, the latter the position he guided upon his retirement. He’s coached under Rudolph Dinvaut, Clarence Millet, Percy Williams, Laury Dupont and most recently Valdez.

He was on the staff for seven trips to the state championship game, three of them title wins.  

I’ve had a good relationship with all of those guys, be it the coaches or players,” Edwards said.

Though he will no longer be drawing up plays in the huddle, Edwards said that he’ll still remain a familiar face around the school, especially on game days.

“Tuesday and Friday nights, I’ll be around,” he said. “I’ll still support them. You always say you’ll miss this, but in reality, you’re not going away.”