By ROBERT L. LEE

LAPLACE – Wanted: an experienced coach to fill the head coach position and restart a football program which has been dormant for 17 years at a local college. Found: six coaches, each with varied college and high school experience willing to take the challenge and hopefully add a successful few years of college coaching to their records.

Of these six prospective applicants, St. Charles Catholic High School’s head football coach Frank Monica has interviewed for the opening, with mixed emotions from Comets’ staff.

“I’ve received a lot of support, everything has been very positive from the principal to some fans who say they support me either way,” said Monica.

He explained there were two standout reasons which attracted him to apply for the position, first of all, the idea of being the head coach of a college team. Secondly, Monica was enthusiast about becoming the Lions’ coach, because it would mean being on the “ground floor” with a team that he believes has strong potential in the college arena.

The Southeastern Lions’ teams currently compete in the Southland Conference and will re-enter the football realm as a Division I-AA independent football team for the first two years, then move into conference action in 2005.

“I guess that’s everybody’s ambition who coaches this sport,” he continued. “Right now I am nothing more than an applicant.”

Monica said the university began taking applications about four weeks ago and has been narrowing down the applicants. He said even if he isn’t selected for the job, he is honored just to be considered with the select group of finalists.

On his record, Monica has a master’s degree from Sout

heastern and 31 total years of coaching experience, beginning with 12 years as a coordinator at Tulane University.

During his career, he has recruited along what is known as the I-10 corridor, the same area used to scout Lions’ players, and is a founder of the Louisiana Coaches Football Association.

Mixed in through his extensive career, are his positions with four high school teams, Lutcher High School, Riverside Academy High School, Jesuit High School and St. Charles Catholic High School.

His time at Lutcher and Riverside Academy was each marked by a state championship, while he led both the Jesuit Blue Jays and the St. Charles Catholic Comets each to district championships.

“Hopefully, those qualifications will give me the opportunity for the job,” Monica continued.

“I hope I bring something to the table, I know all of the other coaches do. You never know what the future has in store, but I’ve got a good position and work with good students and teachers.”

His five competitors for the head coach spot include: Hal Mumme, the University of Kentucky’s former head football coach; Sam Goodwin, a former Northwestern State coach and current Henderson State athletic director; Steve Ensminger, a former LSU quarterback and current Central High head coach; a past Tulane assistant coach and previous Jesuit High School head coach; and Norm Joseph, an offensive coordinator at San Jose State.

So far, Mumme has garnerned much of the attention, but his rocky career at Kentucky may leave Southeastern unsure of his coaching techniques.

The university is pushing to have the final decision settled before the June 28 SLU Board of Supervisors’ meeting, because the board’s approval is needed for the final selection. No matter the outcome, Monica maintains “I am a teacher first, and football is football, the field is still 100 yards long.”