Having been on the job for just about six months, Leesville principal Renita Davis was faced with the awesome task of finding a new leader of the Wampus Cat football program as former head coach Terence Williams bolted for Donaldsonville earlier this month.

She made a promise to the football team that she would find the best coach for the job and began sifting through a number of different applicants.

But one particular resumé stood out.

This person had coached six different teams to at least the state semifinals, whether it was as a head or assistant coach. In 12 years as a head coach, he had a record of 97-48 with 11 playoff appearances, including five quarterfinal appearances.

“There were several applicants for the position, but his resumé stood out above all the rest,” Davis said. “And everyone I talked to about him had nothing but positive things to say about him.”
And that person was David Feaster.

Davis introduced Feaster to the Leesville Wampus Cats on Tuesday at the LHS Fieldhouse as their new head coach.

“We are very excited to have coach Feaster here,” Davis said. “I believe he will have a great impact on the program.”

Along with helping lead six different programs to the state semifinals, whether it was in Louisiana or Texas, Feaster brings with him 28 years of coaching experience, beginning back in 1981 at Jennings High School.

A graduate of Mamou High School, where he played for his father, and a 1981 graduate of

Louisiana Tech University, Feaster spent four years at Jennings, which included a trip to the state finals, where Jennings lost in the Superdome.

After the 1984-85 school year, Feaster took a year off to devote to his master’s, graduating in 1985 from the University of Arkansas with his degree.

He returned to the coaching scene as an assistant at Franklin as a defensive coordinator, staying for two years before making his way to DeRidder as an assistant coach for a couple of years.

It was in 1988 where he helped coach DeRidder to its first district title in 25 years, with his brother also on the staff.

In 1990, he journeyed into Texas for the first time, landing at Houston’s Cypress Creek High School. They advanced to the state semifinals in his only year at the school.

He returned to Louisiana in 1991, becoming a member of Danny Smith’s staff at Leesville High School as a defensive coordinator, where he worked with current Rosepine head coach Johnny Cryer, current DeRidder assistant coach Mitch Mills and James Coleman.

After one year at Leesville, Feaster landed at Natchitoches Central and stayed there for four years.

In his final year at NCHS, the Chiefs reached the state semifinals, beating West Monroe in the state quarterfinals.

He got his first head coach ing job at Many High School and remained at the Sabine Parish school until 2003. In those eight years, Many reached the playoffs all eight years and reached at least the state quarterfinals four times, with one appearance in the state semifinals.

After Many, he moved to Minden to become the head coach for the Crimson Tide. Minden reached the playoffs three straight years under Feaster, including an appearance in the state semifinals in 2006, where the Crimson Tide fell to Bastrop, their only loss of the season.

In 2007, Feaster returned to Texas and was the head coach at Sabine High School for one year, before moving on to Sulphur Springs as an assistant coach.

At Sulphur Springs, Feaster watched his offensive line pave the way for quarterback Tyrik Rollison, who signed with Auburn, and running back Ryan Young, who is headed to the Air Force Academy, leading Sulphur Springs to the Class 4A Division II state championship, where the Wildcats beat Dayton, 69-49.

It was Feaster’s first state title in his time in the coaching ranks.

But that is all behind him now as Feaster focuses on bringing in a staff, along with getting prepared for his new team, which opens practice in just over six weeks.

“This is a great opportunity to help build a program in a community that greatly supports its school,” Feaster said. “Leesville has a great tradition. This is also an opportunity for me to show our troops how appreciative I am for what they do for us by helping their sons.”

In just his few trips to Leesville, he has been impressed with many things, including the Leesville administration, the Vernon Parish School Board and the football players.

“I want to thank Mrs. Davis and the school board for how quickly they have made this happen,” Feaster said. “Mrs. Davis has been very helpful throughout the process and is trying to find teaching sports for our future assistants to teach in.

“Also, I’ve been impressed with Sedric Clemons and how the kids are working here with him, even without having a head coach,” Feaster said. “Plus, I’ve seen coach [Rodger] Causey out in the heat of the day with the junior high kids, working hard with them.”

Feaster believes firmly that he will have many successful teams at Leesville High School. But he quickly points out how soon they become winners will be up to the players.

“The kids definitely look ready to represent the Wampus Cats,” Feaster said. “We will win, whether we do it now is up to the juniors and seniors on this team. It will be up to them and how they buy into what we are doing.”

The preseason workouts begin in early August, with jamboree action slated on the last Friday of that month. Leesville opens its season at home against Class 5A powerhouse West Monroe on Sept. 4.