Brad LaPlante 080925

Montgomery Athletics Show 080925

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Montgomery ISD

Welcome to the Montgomery Athletics Show, featuring MISD Athletic Director, Coach Brad LaPlante. The show highlights the district's commitment to student success through athletics, promoting well-being and life skills like teamwork and leadership.

Coach LaPlante's Transition to Montgomery ISD involved moving from Hutto after 11 years, a decision driven by a long-standing family desire to retire near Lake Conroe. With both his sons now playing college football, the job opening aligned with a different life stage. He started at Montgomery on January 15th, describing the whirlwind transition as stressful but ultimately "God's plan".

In his role overseeing a multi-campus district, Coach LaPlante emphasizes forward-thinking to impact all stakeholders positively. He praises the leadership at both Lake Creek and Montgomery High School, as well as Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin, who understands the academic and athletic connection. The district boasts a strong community and hard-working students, leading to numerous playoff teams, including the Lake Creek boys' soccer team making the semifinals and the Lake Creek softball team winning the 5A state title, ranked number one in the state and five in the nation.

Coach LaPlante experienced the MoTown Showdown rivalry firsthand, attending the basketball games on January 14th before his official start. He observed kids playing hard and mutual respect among players and parents, even after games. While the rivalry may have "tapered down a little bit" since Lake Creek was built in 2019, it varies by sport, with the upcoming football game expected to be intense. Despite on-field competition, there's a level of respect among coaches, who know how hard the other side works and even support each other in playoffs.

The district is undergoing significant construction initiatives, including a stadium renovation funded by a 2019 bond. The stadium is flipping home and visitor sides, will feature new press boxes, and will have a total capacity of 10,042 seats, with expectations to host playoff games. Other improvements include a new parking lot, three entrances, and upgraded locker rooms and concessions. Additionally, three tracks have been restriped, new turf installed at the stadium, and seven campuses currently have construction underway. The community's "buy-in" is evident through voting for the bond and Proposition A, which allowed for hiring more staff and raises. Nearly 50% of UIL-aged students participate in UIL sports, reflecting strong community involvement and growth that could lead to schools becoming 6A in the future.

A new district-wide weekly show/podcast is being launched to showcase all sports, coaches, and kids. The goal is to allow head coaches to discuss their programs, highlight student achievements for recruiting, and recognize students for academic success or strong performance.

Coach LaPlante chose Montgomery ISD because its social media messages promoting "be premier," "home of state champions," and "the best of the best" resonated with his focus on the process of excellence. He felt the district valued "how important everything and everyone is," including his role and academics for student futures. He found the district's caring, charismatic, and hardworking people to be a great match, noting the responsiveness of district leadership in supporting staff and students.

His initial months involved an "observation mode," watching practices and games across middle and high schools. The upcoming year will focus on "coaching the coaches" and initiating new programs, guided by his philosophy to "meet them where they are". He prioritizes being present and visible to offer support and build relationships, evaluating coaches beyond just game day. 

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produced by Fresh Media Works http://www.freshmediaworks.com