Interview: Walker, Riverdale ready to build a lasting, winning football legacy

Most often, the head coaching jobs that come open on the high school level are available because of a lack of success previously.

Some places are simply hard to win at.

Kyle Walker took over as head coach at Riverdale in early December, accepting the challenge of trying to build a winner where many others have tried.

In less than two decades, the Rebels have employed 12 head coaches while having limited success.

Perhaps Walker can make 13 a lucky number.

Walker spent the last six years as a top assistant at Chalmette and previously worked as an assistant coach at De La Salle, where he graduated from.

Now, it is about having a chance to show what the job can produce as Walker and his players want to play badly.

“Absolutely,” Walker said. “Our kids, we’re following all the guidelines and we look forward to an update as soon as it comes out from the LHSAA. Our kids are biting at the bit. They are ready to start. We want our kids out there, especially our seniors. They deserve to have a chance for their senior year and get football in. I think we’re heading in the right direction.”

Walker says school leadership and the Jefferson Parish School Board are supportive of playing as well.

“Absolutely, and I think with the players choosing to play extra curricular activities, they choose to play that every year and that’s something that they need to get signed by their parent in order to play sports, anyway,” Walker said. “Speaking with my athletic director, Coach (Sean) Temple, he’s on board with making sure we follow the guidelines.

Riverdale is ready to roll on the gridiron.

“Our school is ready for football. The school needs it, the players, the coaches,” Walker said. “They all got a taste this past weekend when they saw other states playing on TV. It kind of pushed those kids a little bit more, the coaches a little bit more. We are definitely heading in the right direction. It was emotional watching all weekend, watching the excitement.”

Walker is convinced that the Riverdale job is better than advertised.

“This has been nothing but a pleasure over at Riverdale,” Walker said. “I’m enjoying it. I just feel that they have a sense of ownership and it just needs to be taken over and the program needs to be built and I think if you can get some consistency throughout the next couple of years, I really do believe the players have come together. This was a move in my career that’s going to help me way down the road.”

The issue remains. Will Walker spend more than a couple of years at Riverdale and depart like so many others?

“I plan on being at Riverdale for a long time,” Walker said. “It’s a great place to be. We’re in a district where we’re very competitive. They lost some tough games last year. They have talent and good kids. It’s a great situation. I felt I fell into something I am going to enjoy for many years to come. That’s exactly it. The program needs stability. I want to see what this program has to offer. We’re getting there. In years to come, we will play for district titles.”

A big issue for Riverdale is keeping the young men in its district at home with enormous competition from powerful neighboring private school football programs.

“There are schools all around us,” Walker said. “Our middle school is kind of attached but at the same time Rummel High School is right around the corner. John Curtis is right around the corner. Those are two predominant 5A schools that kids have an option to go to. If those kids stay here and built your program, it will make you better.”

The Rebels have a solid nucleus of solid players to depend on in 2020.

“Just meeting Myron Burks, he’s a 6-foot-five defensive end who’s going to play somewhere at the next level,” Walker said. “He’s a handful to deal with. Offensively, we have a receiver in Jaun Hall. He’s got all the tools he’s just got to put them all together. He can play at the next level. He’ll extend the field for us. We’re putting in a different offense.”

As for who will run his offense, Walker has made a bold move.

“We brought a guy over from defense to play quarterback in Darren Labit,” Walker said. “He has taken control. Korrin Davis is a guy we are moving around. He’s got athletic skill. Lequan Johnson can lock up a corner and Damon Porter is a slot receiver who can take one to the house real quick. My offensive line returns all but one starter.”

Once again, District 8-5A goes through John Ehret. Walker knows all about the league, respects Bonnabel, East Jefferson, West Jefferson, Grace King and Helen Cox and he comes from Chalmette.

“The coaches are good and they are good guys in our league,” Walker said. “I feel we have the tools to build it there and if we can put it all together, we have a chance to make a push in this district in the coming years. It is going to be a very competitive district. East Jeff has gotten better. Ehret is probably on top. Them and Chalmette are battling for one and two but hopefully, we can get ourselves up there. Anybody can beat anybody on a Friday night.”

Now, the focus is on one thing.

“We just hope they get a chance to get our and compete,” Walker said.