Two high school coaching vacancies were filled in the last two weeks, and at least one more remains to be filled.

After leading the Sulphur Tors baseball team to the Class 5A quarterfinals last season, Jesse Cassard resigned on Thursday but pitching coach Sam Moore was immediately promoted to replace him.

“I am very excited about it and ready to tackle it,” Moore said. “It is just a great opportunity with great kids and tremendous community support.

“There are going to be many challenges ahead, but we have a great nucleus coming back. We are going to build on what coach Cassard did and it will be a lot of what we did last year. I am very excited to lead this group.”

Moore played baseball for Louisiana Tech, earning all-conference honors in 1986 and graduating in 1988. He started his coaching career as an assistant at Leesville High School then became head coach at Iowa (1992-1994) and Vinton (1994-1995) high schools. From there, he headed to Texas, coaching at Little-Cypress Mauriceville, West Orange-Stark and Bridge City.

Moore returned to coaching in 2015 as a pitching coach at Bridge City before going to Sulphur in 2016. He has a 152-70 record with five district championships and four regional championships.

Vinton basketball

At Vinton High School, Keith Kelley has returned to the school that jump-started his coaching career to once again run the boys basketball team.

“Your first job is your first love, and Vinton has always had a soft spot in my heart,” Kelley said. “When Mr. (Eric) Heinen let me know the position was available, we talked and I knew it was a good fit.”

Kelley coached the Lions from 1991 to 1994, leading them to the regional round of the Class 2A playoffs in 1992. After leaving Vinton in 1994, Kelley was the head coach at three schools over the next 14 years, including seven at St. Louis Catholic, three at Hamilton Christian Academy, and four at Willis High School in Texas. He spent four years as the athletic director at Hopkinsville High School in Kentucky before taking the head coach job at Hackberry High School. He was the head coach at Lacassine last season.

Vacancy

The lone position that remains to be filled is at South Cameron High School, which is looking for a head football coach.