All of us in football are hoping the upcoming season can start on time.
That’s true whether you are involved as a high school coach, a college player or an NFL fan.
NFL alumnus Cedric Figaro has a special interest in having the 2020 season get underway as scheduled.
Figaro was named earlier this year as the new head coach at his alma mater Lafayette High in Louisiana. He is one of the school’s greatest-ever players. Figaro’s accomplishments there provided a springboard to a scholarship at Notre Dame and an eventual seven-year NFL playing career.
“When our administration decided to make a coaching change late last year,” says Lafayette Athletic Director Tim Lemaire, “Coach Figaro’s name was brought up often by folks in the community and people here at the school. His experience as a player on all three levels—high school, college and professional—plus his coaching experiences were real pluses. It’s going to be exciting once we get started.”
Figaro graduated from Lafayette in 1984 and earned a scholarship to Notre Dame. His two head coaches there were Lou Holtz and Gerry Faust.
Figaro’s NFL career (1988-92, 95-96) included time spent with four teams, including the Cleveland Browns where he played linebacker under then- head coach Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Nick Saban.
Figaro,53, clearly doesn’t lack for coaching mentors and role models. He already has been a winning coach with several high school programs in Louisiana but says the Lafayette post has been his dream job for 20 years.
“I get a chance to resurrect my high school alma mater and make it the winner that it should be,” Figaro says. “Who doesn’t embrace challenges? I’ve been accepting challenges all my life.”
Figaro’s willingness to accept challenges is fortunate because Lafayette High has not had a winning season since 2006. If anyone can get the school’s program back on the right path, we at NFL Alumni believe it will be our brother Cedric Figaro. Good luck, Coach!
