Once a bulldog...

Ville Platte High has a motto “Once a Bulldog, Always a Bulldog”
That motto rings true for the thousands of graduates that have graced the halls of the purple and white. But, it especially holds even more significance for 2009 graduate Rhonda Frank Thomas, as she will succeed Dot Doulet as the head girls’ basketball coach.
Thomas, a six-year assistant under Doulet, knows that she has some big shoes to fill, but feels that she is ready for the task at hand.
“Coach Dot has taught me a lot about and the ins and outs of being a head coach and I will always be grateful to her for not only her mentorship, but her friendship as well,” stated Thomas. “It is hard to follow a legendary coach like her, but I am ready to carry on the winning tradition that has been established here.”
“I want to create a legacy that this school and community can be proud of,” Thomas continued. “I will take what worked previously and put my own spin on it. The program is in good hands.”
Thomas’ journey to becoming the newest head coach of the program came at an early age. The self-proclaimed tomboy fell in love with the game of basketball as a youngster at James Stephens Elementary School.
It was there that Thomas discovered her propensity for playing the game she would one day come to coach.
“When I was in elementary school, during P.E. we would play basketball,” said Thomas. “As we would play, I saw I could out do most of the kids in the class, including the boys. The more I played the better I got. I guess because it came natural to me, I just fell in love with the game.”
Thomas’ love for basketball stayed with her every minute of every day. After her dad purchased a basketball goal, Thomas could not get enough of trying to hone her skills, even going so far as carrying and dribbling a basketball everywhere she went.
Thomas took her game to the organizational level, joining the Evangeline Parish Youth Basketball program when she was seven-years old. The only reason why she did not join sooner was because at that time there was not a younger age group.
When Thomas entered fifth grade, she began playing for James Stephens. Ironically, Thomas’ head coach for the two years she played at James Stephens was Doulet.
After leaving James Stephens, Thomas took her talents to Ville Platte High. Because of her hard work and dedication to the game, Thomas was able to not only make and play on the junior high team, but she also had enough skills to be placed on the high school team as a seventh grader.
“At the time, one of the eighth grade girls told me that seventh graders could not try out for the high school basketball team,” commented Thomas. “So, I missed the first day of tryouts. The next day, Coach (Elton) Williams asked me why I wasn’t at tryouts. I told him the reason and he said for me to be there the next day.”
In her eighth grade year, Thomas was able to breach the starting varsity line-up on a few occasions. By the time she became a freshman, Thomas had secured a starting varsity spot; one that she would not relinquish until she finished her career.
“It was intimidating at first because I was so young,” said Thomas. “But, some of the older players, like Renotta Edwards, took me under their wing and would work one-on-one with me. They knew I was serious about the game and had the work ethic to make myself better.”
During Thomas’ sophomore year, the up and coming basketball star faced a very tough challenge in her life, giving birth to a baby. Now a mother, Thomas had to give up her ultimate dream of playing in the WNBA. However, she was able to re-focus her energy as she began to become more of a student of the game.
“Having a baby changed my goals for the game of basketball,” stated Thomas. “I still had the passion for the game. So, my junior and senior year, I dedicated myself to learn more of the game and to become a second coach on the floor. Instead of trying to improve my personal skill set, I tried to be a facilitator for my team.”
Despite the death of her ultimate dream, Thomas’ focus now became one of how best to take care of her child. During her junior season, thoughts of possibly becoming a basketball coach of her own began to creep into Thomas’ mind.
After high school graduation, and with the complete, unconditional support from her family, Thomas enrolled in the education program at University of Louisiana-Lafayette as a math major. The process of doing her motherly duties and, at the same time, trying to secure a degree was tough on Thomas, but she persevered enough to make her new dream come true.
Like all education majors, Thomas was tasked to student teach for one semester. Scheduled to start her student teaching at Basile, Thomas got a phone call that would change the course of her career.
“I was walking into Basile High School to start my first day of student teaching when my phone rang,” said Thomas. “When I answered, Mrs. Kelli Lafleur (then Ville Platte High principal), was on the line telling me she had an open spot for a math teacher and wanted to know if I would be interested. I jumped on the chance, because I wanted to be at Ville Platte High and it was a opportunity for me to put my foot in the door”
That semester, Thomas did not get paid because technically she was still a student at UL-L. It did not matter to Thomas whether she was paid or not, she was back at home.
Thomas was re-hired as a full time teacher the next year, but was unable to join Doulet’s coaching staff as it was already filled. However, the very next year, Doulet had an opening and approached Thomas about becoming part of the staff. Naturally, Thomas accepted and the rest, as we say, is history.
Like every new head coach, Thomas has a vision and a goal for their program. For Thomas, that vision and goal must meld together with fluidity.
“I want to teach the game in a way that develops character and discipline in the players they can carry on and off of the court,” said Thomas. “Every coach dreams of championships. But, my ultimate goal is to spread passion and knowledge of the game to my players. If championships come, that’s great. Either way, I will show up with a smile in my heart knowing that we will positively impact the school and the community.”
All coaches, regardless of gender, have to have a support system in order to put in the time and effort to become the very best mentor and teacher they can. Thomas knows that she is no exception to that rule.
“My husband and kids have been so supportive throughout my coaching career,” said Thomas. “They are my backbone. When you have people that are behind you 100 percent, it makes doing the job you love that much easier.”