Louisiana RaginӰר Cajuns new head menӰרs basketball coach certainly understands why critics doubt how realistic his dreams are for the program. After all, the RaginӰר Cajuns havenӰרt won an NCAA Tournament game since 1992.
The all-time high for average attendance in the Cajundome was 6,885 in the facilityӰרs inaugural season of 1985-86. That figure hasnӰרt eclipsed 5,000 since the 2022-23 season.
Nevertheless, White isnӰרt buying those perceived limitations. He isnӰרt even entertaining them. ӰרYes, 13,000 is whatӰרs going to be in that arena Ӱר absolutely,Ӱר White insisted. ӰרWeӰרve got the talent to do it. Those guys are going to play extremely hard. I can feel the excitement.Ӱר
The 12,800-seat Cajundome ironically hasnӰרt been full since White and his St. Augustine Purple Knights defeated South Lafourche to win the Class 5A state championship in 1999.
So, as a player, heӰרs seen it with his own eyes. Now, as head coach, replicating that environment is on the first page of his playbook.
As for WhiteӰרs aspirations to build his team into a national brand Ӱר well, heӰרs done that, too.
When he joined head coach Kelvin Sampson and HoustonӰרs program in 2017, the Cougars were in a mid-major conference just three seasons removed from a 13-19, 4-14 campaign. This past season, Houston narrowly lost to Florida in the national championship game as a member of the Big 12. ӰרItӰרs been done before,Ӱר White said. ӰרWe did some special things in what most people call a mid-major conference. ItӰרs not about the name of the school. ItӰרs about the people who are at the school that makes the difference.
ӰרIӰרve been a part of it. IӰרve been a part of building something special. IӰרm big on ӰרWhy not?Ӱר The only opinions that really matter to me are my coaching staff and the players that are in that room. As long as those guys believe, I believe it can happen, because itӰרs been done before.Ӱר
It certainly hasnӰרt taken White long to take the critical first steps in building his dream program in Lafayette.
With only three players returning from last yearӰרs team, White already had three new players in the fold on the day he was announced as the RaginӰר CajunsӰר new coach in March. Within weeks, he had a full roster, including eight veterans from the transfer portal and four high school signees.
In WhiteӰרs mind, his success in recruiting is simple.
ӰרIӰרm very transparent,Ӱר he said. ӰרI do not lie when it comes to recruiting. I think thatӰרs how you get in to try to retain some of these guys. These guys want to be told the truth.Ӱר
The Cajuns added eight players from the transfer portal. That list includes 6-9 New Orleans native Todd Jones from Portland; 6-8 forward Dariyus Woodson from North Dakota; 6-2 guard Karris Bilal from Vanderbilt; 6-3 guard Jamyron Keller from Oklahoma State; 6-3 shooter DeӰרVion Lavergne from Purdue-Fort Wayne; 6-5 wing Dorian Finister from Sam Houston; 6-8 forward Sean Elkinton from Louisiana Tech; and 6-5 guard Jaxon Olvera of Pepperdine.
Two high school players also signed with the Cajuns. That group is led by 6-7 wing Joshua Lewis from Tampa, Florida. Lewis is believed to be the highest-rated player signed in the programӰרs history, as well as 6-1 guard Michael Collins from Pearland, Texas.
Before all the additions were even finalized, WhiteӰרs father told everyone who would listen his son could recruit. ӰרThe relationships he has with players is very strong,Ӱר Clarence White III said. ӰרHe can reshape a person and develop them to be a great basketball player and a better person and thatӰרs a blessing.Ӱר
As a veteran coming back closer to family from North Dakota, WoodsonӰרs choice was easy. ӰרTalking to coach (Quannas) White a lot, I loved his vision and my parents loved him and my grandma,Ӱר Woodson said. ӰרHe seemed like a very genuine person who I wanted to be around.Ӱר
As a veteran transfer coming off a turbulent season in Ruston, Elkinton was comforted by WhiteӰרs words. ӰרWhat drew me to the Cajuns was more or less knowing how Coach Q is a big character guy,Ӱר Elkinton said. ӰרHe surrounds himself with a staff that is considered his close family. TheyӰרre really here to help us as players and theyӰרre very genuine. TheyӰרll be here by our side. TheyӰרll be hard on us, but at the same time, theyӰרll always be our biggest supporters.Ӱר
In WhiteӰרs mind, thatӰרs a promise he intends for his coaching staff to keep.
ӰרThose kids are our lives and thatӰרs the truth,Ӱר said White, who feels he can demand that because how close he is to his staff that includes his younger brother Josh and former coach and mentor Scott Raines.
ӰרThose guys who are around me are loyal,Ӱר White said. ӰרI think thatӰרs very important. IӰרm not very big on being disingenuous. What you see with me is what you get, IӰרm for real. IӰרve been knowing all of those guys on my staff.Ӱר
(Veteran sports journalist Kevin Foote, a UL Lafayette graduate, covers Louisiana RaginӰר Cajuns Athletics for The Acadiana Advocate.)
