The Jennings Bulldogs made a major hire on Wednesday to replace longtime head coach Rusty Phelps, who retired after the 2022 season.

Jennings lured longtime Kinder head coach Bret Fuselier away from the Yellow Jackets.

“Coach Phelps retired and Jennings is one of those jobs in this area that is really intriguing,” Fuselier said. “They have a rich tradition. They always have great athletes and it is a great community. Originally, I am a Jeff Davis Parish guy. I know a little bit of what this program is about. I am excited to work over here and wear that maroon and grey.”

Phelps led Jennings for 29 seasons. He finished his career with a 214-146 record — 198 of his wins were with Jennings, including a run to the Class 3A final in 2019.

“Coach Phelps, he did it for so long and has so many wins in his career,” Fuselier said. “He was a great leader here at Jennings High School.

“I am just trying to go in there and continue to build on that program that was set forth before me. Jennings High School is grateful for what he did over there. I am just trying to go other there and be the best that we can be and try to get some more trophies in the trophy case.”

In 10 seasons at Kinder, Fuselier led the Yellow Jackets to the Class 2A state final four times, winning state titles in 2013 and 2015. Kinder was state runner-up in 2014 and 2020.

Fuselier, who played at Elton High and graduated in 1997, sports a 97-60 career record, including a stint at Elton from 2005 to 2007. He was the Class 2A Coach of the Year in 2013 and the American Press Southwest Louisiana Coach of the Year three consecutive seasons from 2013 to 2015, winning 42 games in that time.

“It was a great time,” Fuselier said. “It was 10 years that were special to me. Kinder is always going to be part of my life.”

Fuselier’s departure from Kinder leaves four openings in Southwest Louisiana, including Sulphur, LaGrange and Oberlin.

Three other area schools hired head coaches in recent weeks.

Rosepine promoted offensive coordinator Troy Gardner to replace Brad Ducote, who led the Eagles to the quarterfinals the last two seasons.

Pickering hired Natchitoches Central assistant John Daugherty to replace Jared Underwood, who went 0-20 in two seasons.

Vinton promoted assistant Tyler Lavergne, a former Grand Lake quarterback and son of former head coach Chad Lavergne, to replace Lark Hebert. The elder Lavergne had stints as head coach at DeQuincy, Lake Arthur, Grand Lake and St. Louis Catholic.