HAHNVILLE, La. — Erica Randolph thought her days in the gym with basketball were over when her college playing days ended.
Randolph didn't expect to be on the sidelines, but when a friend asked her to be an assistant for his high school squad, she went and caught the fever.
"The first time I stepped on the court, I said, 'This is absolutely where I belong,'" said Randolph.
So, when asked to move to the head coaching position for boys basketball at Hahnville earlier this year, she didn't hesitate.
"A lot of these guys, I've been with for three years, so it was never a thought process, well, she' a female... That's just coach Randolph."
Randolph is now in her seventh year at Hahnville and she previously was head coach of the freshman team, but now she's leading the varsity. Those close to the team applauded the unusual move, while some on the outside were a bit shocked.
"They didn't know what we had accomplished in seven years, so they were a bit taken aback. I expect that," she said. "I expect to get criticism."
"I don't think there's a difference," said Cobe Landry, a junior guard. "She coaches us the same. She talks to us the same. She knows the game."
"It's unusual, because she doesn't yell," said Jordan Moore, a senior. "She gets her point across. She's just as good as any man coach."
Earlier this week her team was in a tight contest with Rummel when she drew up a play and a shooter converted an open three-pointer for the win.
"There's things as a female that I bring to the game, because I'm into details. I can see things, like two plays ahead of the game. There's things I bring to the game that players absolutely value."
Randolph says she doesn't shy away from the Xs and Os of the game, but she thinks that the relationships with the players mean just as much.
"It's why my guys play so hard," she said. "They know, I may fuss, I may get upset, but they know, coach cares about me."