'Tough Love' Coach retires from education in Abbeville

Glenn Hebert does not shy away from his method of teaching and coaching today’s children. He calls it “Tough Love.” He learned it from his father Parker Hebert. In simple terms, he treated his students like he would treat his own children.
Well, Hebert is taking his “Tough Love” method of teaching and coaching and going home. After 26 years of being a P.E. teacher/coach at J.H. Williams Middle School, Hebert is retiring.
“I have seen a change in education,” he said. “The days of my type of discipline is over. I don’t see the powers that be wanting the type of tough love discipline. I discipline kids like they were my own.
“Tough love is what these kids want and need.”
The 65-year-old Abbeville High graduate made the decision midway through this past school year. He thought about retiring around January but his wife, Alice, convinced him to stay the entire school year.
It was not too hard of a decision to make after seeing what is happening to education, plus, his wife needs him more around the house these days.
“I can see the change,” said Hebert. “More and more kids today lack respect for authority. They do not respect themselves. How are they going to respect authority?”
He made a bold prediction that there will be fewer and fewer teachers staying long in education in inner city schools.
His first and only teaching job was at JHW. After getting laid off in the oil field in 1989, he decided to put his teaching degree to good use.
He replaced former JHW teacher Brad Prudhomme.
Teaching along side of him for all those years was Larry Winters, who was there when Hebert arrived. It was Winters, who taught him the ins and outs at JHW. For 22 years, the two men got along.
Hebert’s first principal was Dan Dartez, and he went on to serve under five different principals; One of which was his former high school football coach, J.Y Mula, who had a major impact on him.
Hebert was also a three-sport coach, coaching track, football and basketball. His teams were very successful throughout the years. But what he is most proud is that an athlete has embarrassed the school.
Successful teams meant he was blessed with good male athletes. One of the best he has seen over the last 26 years is Tiremone Williams, who is a member of the Ragin Cajun basketball team.
When Williams was an eighth grader, he high jumped 6-foot-5 during track practice.
He has been blessed to coach quality football players such as Jermain Wiltz, Travin Moore, James Broussard, Alonzo Williams, Chad Hargrave, and Williams.
It has been two weeks since he walked out of J.H. Williams Middle School, so the thought of being retired has not hit him yet.
“Someone asked me how was retirement? I told them I didn’t know because I would normally be off for the summer.”
Filling in his shoes in coaching and in PE is Dean Dronet. Dronet has been at JHW for two years. Hebert has been impressed with the new teacher.
“Dean is going to do a great job. I am leaving but I know the students at J.H. Williams are in good hands with Dean,” Hebert added.
He would especially like thank every administrator and his colleagues who he worked with at J.H Williams for making it possible to be a successful teacher and coach. He wanted to especially thank School Board member Charles Campbell for him.
One final person who has made working and coaching at J.H. Williams a lot easier is his wife, Alice, he said. Hebert said she was so understanding and put up with his coaching schedule.