Lafayette Christian Academy names Zack Lochard head football coach

LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA - Zack Lochard won't need to make many changes to his morning commute. 

The former Patterson and Breaux Bridge football coach was announced as Lafayette Christian Academy's new head coach and director of football operations in a social media post from the school on Friday afternoon.

Breaux Bridge and LCA's campuses are less than 11 miles apart.

First noting that Lochard brings "18 years of collegiate and high school coaching experience to the campus of LCA," the post continued as follows:

"Not only has Zack made an impact everywhere he's been, but he has also raised the bar at every one of his stops."

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Lochard had success at Patterson, a proud program that had fallen in decline, posting a 7-4 record in his second year at the school. The Lumberjacks went 5-23 the previous three seasons.

He took over at Breaux Bridge two years ago and led the Tigers to the Division II non-select quarterfinals as the lowest seed (No. 28) in the bracket. The Tigers went 6-6 this past season, upsetting No. 14 Euince in the first round of the playoffs as a No. 19 seed before falling at No. 3 Assumption.

Lochard is bringing assistants Tyrell Fenroy and Treverance Patt to LCA as offensive coordinator and defensive assistant, respectively. Fenroy is a local legend who was named All-Sun Belt all four years as a record-setting tailback at the University of Louisiana. Fenroy prepped at St. Charles Catholic.

The release notes that Patt, a Breaux Bridge native, was a second-team All-Sun Belt selection during his playing days as a Ragin' Cajun.

"These are two men of high character and integrity," Lochard said in the release. "Tyrell and Trev are great leaders and role models, and I just feel it's very important to have men like that."

Lochard replaces Hunter Landry, who left LCA after four years to become a coach at another nearby school, Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy. Landry spent one year as the Knights' head coach, replacing Trev Faulk, who was recently named Director of Football Operations at Lafayette Renaissance.

Landry is expected to be named as Lafayette Renaissance's offensive coordinator.

LCA has won four state titles in football and finished as runner-up to another Lafayette program, St. Thomas More, the past two years.

The Knights will graduate high-profile players such as Ju'Juan Johnson (LSU signee) and Melvin Hills (Texas), but there are talented players expected to return such as tailback Jalen Noel and receiver Brennan Walker,

This is LCA's final year competing up as a Class 4A school. The Knights, who have Class 2A enrollment, will be in a district next year with Notre Dame and Lafayette Renaissance, among others.

The LCA and Lafayette Renaissance campuses are separated by only 3.3 miles on the north side of the city.

Photo of Zack Lochard by Brad Bowie, The Advocate 

-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA