By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

Former Riverside Academy football coach Tim Taffi won’t be venturing far to his next stop.

Taffi, who was dismissed from Riverside on Monday, was been recommended for hire at Destrehan for an assistant football coach and physical education teacher, Taffi confirmed Wednesday.

His hiring is pending approval by the St. Charles Parish School Board.

“The Board has the final say,” said Taffi. “But obviously, I’m ready to get back to work. I’m chomping at the bit and ready to start coaching football. I’m excited about the situation.”

If the move is approved, Taffi will coach linebackers for the two-time defending Class 5A champion Wildcats.

Taffi spent 11 years at Riverside as an assistant under Mickey Roussel, 10 of those as defensive coordinator.

After Roussel’s retirement after the 2007 season, Taffi was chosen as his successor. In his first season, Taffi piloted the Rebels to a 4-6 record and a fourth place finish in District 10-2A behind John Curtis, St. James and Newman.

But after Riverside officials learned that Taffi had shown interest in a potential job with Destrehan, he was let go and replaced by Roussel, who will return after a season’s hiatus.

But Taffi says that his new prospective post comes with many silver linings.

“Probably the No. 1 issue with the whole thing is the state retirement,” said Taffi. “I just turned 40. And for the first time in my life, I guess I’m considering what my future holds when I’m 60. One day, I’ll have to retire, and I have a family to take care of.

“I have a chance to teach athletic P.E., something I’m very interested in doing. And it’s an opportunity to coach at a powerhouse 5A program.”