Brad Laird
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Natchitoches Central HS (LA) |
| Record | 1–7 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | June 20, 1973[1] |
| Playing career | |
| 1991–1995 | Northwestern State |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1996 | Northwestern State (GA) |
| 1997 | West Monroe HS (LA) (assistant) |
| 1998 | Ouachita HS (AR) (assistant) |
| 1999–2000 | Longview HS (TX) (QB) |
| 2001–2002 | Nashville HS (AR) (assistant) |
| 2003–2004 | Northwestern State (DC/LB) |
| 2005 | Northwestern State (DC/DB) |
| 2007 | Stephen F. Austin (LB) |
| 2008 | Northwestern State (DC) |
| 2009 | Northwestern State (AHC/co-DC) |
| 2010–2011 | Northwestern State (AHC/DC) |
| 2013–2016 | Ruston HS (LA) |
| 2017 | Northwestern State (AHC/DC) |
| 2018–2023 | Northwestern State |
| 2024–present | Natchitoches Central HS (LA) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 16–41 (college) 29–25 (high school) |
Brad Laird (born June 20, 1973) is an American college football coach. He is the head coach at Natchitoches Central High School in Natchitoches, Louisiana, a position he has held since 2024.[2] He was the head football coach at Northwestern State University from 2018 to 2023. He previously served as an assistant football coach at Northwestern State, Stephen F. Austin State University, and various coaching positions at several high schools. Laird played college football at Northwestern State University, where he played quarterback.
Head coaching career
[edit]Northwestern State
[edit]Laird was named head football coach at Northwestern State University on November 20, 2017.[3][4][5] Laird resigned as the Demons' head coach on October 26, 2023; that same day, the university announced that the remainder of the football season would be cancelled to allow players and coaches time to grieve over the death of junior safety Ronnie Caldwell.[6]
On November 5, 2023, Caldwell's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Quad Apartment Complex, where Caldwell lived and where the shooting occurred, and Laird.[7] According to the lawsuit, Caldwell was placed in an apartment with McIntosh, who was not attending college and had a history of legal trouble, after mold was found in Caldwell's original apartment.[8] The lawsuit also alleges that McIntosh pulled a gun on Caldwell three days before the shooting occurred. Caldwell then notified his father, Ronald, of the incident who then alerted Laird. Laird called Ronald, assuring him that he would immediately place Ronnie in a safe location.[9]
Head coaching record
[edit]College
[edit]| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern State Demons (Southland Conference) (2018–2023) | |||||||||
| 2018 | Northwestern State | 5–6 | 4–5 | T–8th | |||||
| 2019 | Northwestern State | 3–9 | 3–6 | T–8th | |||||
| 2020–21 | Northwestern State | 1–5 | 1–5 | 7th | |||||
| 2021 | Northwestern State | 3–8 | 3–5 | T–5th | |||||
| 2022 | Northwestern State | 4–7 | 4–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 2023 | Northwestern State | 0–6 | 0–2 | ||||||
| Northwestern State: | 16–41 | 15–25 | |||||||
| Total: | 16–41 | ||||||||
High school
[edit]| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruston Bearcats () (2013–2016) | |||||||||
| 2013 | Ruston | 8–4 | 3–2 | 3rd | L LHSAA Class 5A Regionals | ||||
| 2014 | Ruston | 7–5 | 4–1 | 2nd | L LHSAA Class 5A 1st Round | ||||
| 2015 | Ruston | 6–5 | 3–2 | 3rd | L LHSAA Class 5A 1st Round | ||||
| 2016 | Ruston | 7–4 | 4–1 | 2nd | L LHSAA Class 5A 1st Round | ||||
| Ruston: | 28–18 | 14–6 | |||||||
| Natchitoches Central Chiefs () (2024–present) | |||||||||
| 2024 | Natchitoches Central | 1–7 | 0–5 | ||||||
| Natchitoches Central: | 1–7 | 0–5 | |||||||
| Total: | 29–25 | ||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ "Brad Laird - Demon Football Coach". Northwestern State Demons. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ Owens, Tim (March 26, 2024). "Laird named Natchitoches Central football coach". KTALnews. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Ferrell, Scott (November 30, 2017). "Northwestern State formally introduces Brad Laird as head football coach". The Times. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ Mongrue, Trey (July 13, 2018). "A Demon's Path: Brad Laird rings in new era at NSU". KALB. Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ "Northwestern State introduces Brad Laird as new football coach". The Advocate. November 30, 2017. Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ Kasabian, Paul (October 26, 2023). "Northwestern State Cancels Football Season, HC Resigns After Ronnie Caldwell's Death". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ "Parents of killed Northwestern State player Ronnie Caldwell files lawsuit against former coach and Quad Apartment Complex". KTRK-TV. November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ Desselle, Sherman (October 27, 2023). "Northwestern State University faces legal action after death of football player Ronnie Caldwell, Jr". KRIV. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ Henderson, Cydney (November 4, 2023). "Ronnie Caldwell Jr.: Parents of NSU player file wrongful death lawsuit". USA Today. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
External links
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- 1973 births
- Living people
- American football quarterbacks
- Northwestern State Demons football coaches
- Northwestern State Demons football players
- Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football coaches
- High school football coaches in Arkansas
- High school football coaches in Louisiana
- High school football coaches in Texas
- College football coaches first appointed in the 1990s stubs
- American football quarterback stubs