Ehret tabs Marcus Scott as new head football coach

VIDEO: Ehret head coach Marcus Scott

Experience matters.

For John Ehret, the landing of an experience head football coach was paramount in the search to right a powerful program that was listing after an unfortunate year.

The Patriots got their man, naming Marcus Scott as their head coach Tuesday morning.

“I think it’s a privilege to have an opportunity to be at a school like John Ehret,” Scott said. “It’s almost like I’ve come full circle as I was named head coach at West Jeff 10 years ago. A lot has changed over that decade to help me grow as a coach and a person that I believe will serve me well at Ehret. There is a rich tradition of success at Ehret, dating back to Jesse Daigle and Ray St. Pierre. To be at a place with great tradition is an honor.”

A native New Orleanian, Scott was an outstanding player at Jesuit, earning All-State honors in 1994 for his fine play as a safety for the Blue Jays, helping lead Jesuit to the Class 5A semifinals. Scott went on to play four seasons at McNeese State, earning four letters and was a two-year starter at cornerback for the Cowboys

Scott served previously as the head coach at West Jefferson from 2008-2013, guiding the Buccaneers to six consecutive state playoff appearances and a pair of district championships, posting a solid 38-26 record. He went 5-1 against Ehret, including five straight wins.

Scott began his coaching career as an assistant at Clark under Spencer Ross in 2000 before joining the staff of Vic Eumont at Jesuit for three seasons from 2001-03. He then moved to Texas and B.F. Terry High in Rosenberg coaching the secondary from 2004-06 before returning to Louisiana as an assistant coach under Hank Tierney at West Jefferson. When Tierney left West Jefferson to work at Ponchatoula following the 2007 season, Scott was elevated to head coach of the Buccaneers.

In 2015, Scott moved back to south Louisiana to join the staff of Tim Rebowe at Nicholls, serving as secondary coach for the Colonels before moving back to high school to serve as defensive coordinator at Destrehan under Steve Robicheaux.

“I think so highly of Marcus, he did a tremendous job for us the last couple of years,” Robicheaux said. “He’s a guy who works extremely hard and does things the right way. He understands the importance of discipline. Anytime you hire a great coordinator, you know he will eventually get hired as a head coach somewhere else. I wish him nothing but the best. He’s in it for the kids. John Ehret is getting a really good football coach and a class person.”

Destrehan plays John Ehret in week three in 2018, as they have the past few years.

“I’m not looking forward to that,”Robicheaux said. “They have really players and a really good coach.”

At Ehret, Scott takes over for Interim head coach Del Lee-Collins, who stepped in and did an admirable job in 2017, guiding the Patriots to a an 8-4 mark and a playoff victory before falling to eventual state champion Zachary in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs.

Lee-Collins was pressed into service when Corey Lambert was dismissed after six years as head coach at his alma mater. He led Ehret to the 2015 Class 5A state championship game, losing to Zachary. Lambert was a star quarterback at Ehret, graduating in 1994 and served as offensive coordinator for three seasons for the Patriots under Billy North before he took over as head coach after North stepped down in 2012 after 25 years at the school, including 22 as head coach.

“We’re going to roll up our sleeves and get to work immediately,” Scott said. “This is a good situation at Ehret. The first thing you see is the size and the ability of the players,” Scott said. “I’m glad I won’t have to stay up all night scheming to defend Travis Mumphrey as I have the last two years. It will be good to have him on our side. I am really looking forward to the opportunity.”