Erath hires Doug Dotson as new head football coach

On Thursday, the Vermilion Parish School Board approved the hiring of Doug Dotson as the new Erath High head football coach.

Doug, 43, is expected to arrive on the EHS campus some time next week.

Doug, who was born and raised in Lafayette, has been living in Baton Rouge the last four years. For two of those four years he has been the head football coach of Central-Baton Rouge High School, a Class 5-A school that finished with a 7-4 overall record, co-champs of its district and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

Despite the success at the school, Doug said it was time to return to Acadiana because that is where most of his family will be next year.

He is the father of three children (two girls and one son). His oldest daughter is living in Lafayette and about to get married. His other daughter is a senior at Central of Baton Rouge and plans to attend college at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette.

As parents, he and wife wanted to be closer to their daughters in Lafayette.

Plus, his mother Jane is 73 years old and lives in Lafayette.

“The timing is right,” said Doug. “I have mixed emotions about leaving, but my family values are strong. I did not want to have two daughters living in Lafayette, and us in Baton Rouge.”

He has been the head coach of the school for two years where he compiled a 14-6 record and earned a playoff berth each year. Prior to being the head coach, he was the defensive coordinator at the school for four years. He also coached at Redemptorist High School and was the head football coach at Plaquemine High for one year.

Doug was selected as the head coach over two other candidates. Erath Principal Francis Touchet is expected to contact the two other applicants today to inform them about his selection.

“He has a proven record as a head coach,” said Touchet. “He has been successful. In my opinion he is on the cutting edge of coaching.”

Doug is the son of former Acadiana High legendary football coach Bill Dotson. Under his father, Doug played quarterback and also defensive back. He inked a football scholarship with McNeese University to play defensive back.

Acadiana High continues to run the split-veer offense, which is what Doug orchestrated while playing quarterback in high school. But Doug is quick to point out that he is not his father when it comes to running what offense.

“I am a no-huddle guy,” said Doug. “We are hurry and go offense. My quarterback is in the shotgun. You also have to be able to throw the football and run the football. In my opinion, it is easier to slow down an offense but harder to get a slow offense going when you need to.”

Doug expects his players to like his wide-open offense.

Another thing that impressed Doug about Erath High is EHS Principal Francis Touchet .

“I see Erath as a school that wants to win,” said Doug. “Francis is a football guy, which is hard to find these days.”