By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Sports

At 8:30 Tuesday morning, Bryant Sepulvado met with his football team in Captain Shreve’s weight room.

He told them they weren’t his team any longer.

Monday evening, Sepulvado accepted an assistant principal’s position at Shreve. The opportunity became available with the recent retirement of principal Ginger Gustavson, and the promotion of Robert Silvie to replace Gustavson.

Sepulvado’s seven seasons as head coach — 13 seasons on staff — are over.

“Probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done is tell my team,” Sepulvado said Tuesday afternoon. “I love those young men like they’re my sons. I’ll be honest with you, I broke down and cried like a three-year-old.”

Keith Burton, Chief Academic Officer for Caddo Parish schools, said the search for a new coach was underway. Despite the season starting in less than three months, Burton said the hire will not be on an interim basis.

Sepulvado said Adam Kirby, who was Shreve’s offensive coordinator last year — his first on staff — has been promoted to acting head coach.

“The time seemed right,” Sepulvado said of making the move from athletics to administration.

“My son (Nolan) is going to be an incoming freshman and wants to play football. For 20 years, I’ve coached everybody else’s kid. Now, it’s time for me to sit back and enjoy my son. He’s the only one we (along with wife Cathy) have, and I want to be that dad that can be at every one of his ball games. If I coach, I won’t be at every one of his ball games.”

Sepulvado takes off his headsets as Shreve’s third all-time winningest coach, with a record of 44-32. Last year, the Gators won their first eight games before finishing 10-2. Sepulvado took Shreve to the Class 5A state playoffs four times. Twice, his teams shared the District 1-5A title.

“I think the program is in a good spot,” Sepulvado said. “If there was ever a time to walk away or feel good about it, now is it. I would never walk away and leave the program in bad shape.”

As for his replacement, Sepulvado said he expects to be asked for his input.

“Really looking for somebody who cares about kids,” Sepulvado said. “That’s one thing I’ve always prided myself on. Yes, we want to win football games and everything else, but we care about kids. We’re going to treat them right, coach them right, and do everything we can to open up doors and try to help them get in college and stay on their grades.”

Chip Kendall, who for the past six seasons has been Shreve’s defensive coordinator, praised Sepulvado and the job he has done.

“Bryant has been the ultimate professional, and the right man to lead Captain Shreve,” Kendall said. “He took over at an extremely difficult time with (former head coach Richard Lary’s) passing, and did an amazing job…. The players and coaches love him and he will be missed. Our job now is to continue the success he started.”

Captain Shreve opens the 2022 season Thursday, Sept. 1, against Loyola College Prep.

“In September, it’s going to be tough,” Sepulvado said of not being on the sideline. “But it will be nice, on the dad’s side of it, to watch my son play.”

Contact Tony at SBJTonyT@gmail.com