Hull-Daisetta ISD welcomes new athletic director

Hull-Daisetta ISD has named Jarett Thibodeaux as its new athletic director and head football coach.

Thibodeaux succeeds Randy Birdwell, who served the district for the past five years. District officials announced the hiring this week and praised both coaches for their dedication to Hull-Daisetta ISD and its student-athletes.

“I am honored to serve as the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Hull-Daisetta ISD,” said Coach Thibodeaux. “I am excited to begin this new chapter and look forward to working with our outstanding student-athletes, coaches, staff, families, and the entire Bobcat community.”

A graduate of Lamar University and Hamshire-Fannett High School, Thibodeaux brings a vision centered on building student-athletes through pride, discipline, accountability and a commitment to excellence. District officials said he is focused on developing young people both on and off the field while building strong relationships with students, parents, staff and the community.

“I believe success is earned through hard work, dedication, and attention to detail,” Thibodeaux said. “By emphasizing teamwork, character, and accountability, we will strive to help every student-athlete reach their full potential while representing Hull-Daisetta ISD with pride.”

Superintendent Tim Bartram said Thibodeaux’s experience and commitment to the district make him the right person to lead Bobcat athletics into the future.

“Coach Thibodeaux has been a dedicated teacher, coach, and Bobcat for many years. He understands what ‘Bobcat Pride and Traditions’ truly mean because he has lived them. I believe he will lead our athletic program into the future with the character, integrity, and values that have long defined Hull-Daisetta ISD. His commitment to our students and our community makes him an outstanding choice to lead Bobcat Athletics, and I look forward to watching our student-athletes thrive under his leadership,” Bartram said.

The district encouraged the community to welcome Thibodeaux as he begins his new role leading the Bobcats’ athletic programs.

Bartram also expressed his appreciation for Birdwell’s service and the legacy he leaves behind at Hull-Daisetta ISD.

“Coach Randy Birdwell has been the epitome of what it means to be a Bobcat. As a graduate of Hull-Daisetta High School, he returned home and spent the past five years serving our students and community with unwavering dedication and fierce devotion to Hull-Daisetta ISD,” he said.”

Throughout his tenure, Coach Birdwell always put students first.

“He genuinely cared about the success and well-being of every student-athlete and was equally committed to all of our athletic programs, girls and boys alike. He understood that education extends beyond the playing field, and he consistently emphasized the importance of academics, character, and personal growth,” Bartram said. “Randy was also the kind of person who was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Whether it was a student, colleague, parent, or community member, he never hesitated to put others before himself. That servant-leadership is what made him such a respected coach, educator, and role model.”

Bartram went on to say, “Coach Birdwell leaves behind a legacy of integrity, compassion, and Bobcat Pride. He has been a tremendous representative of Hull-Daisetta ISD, and while he will certainly be missed, we are grateful for the lasting impact he has made on our students, our athletic programs, and our community. On behalf of the Hull-Daisetta ISD Board of Trustees and our entire Bobcat family, I wish Randy, his wife Mayra, and son Slaiden nothing but success and happiness in the next chapter of their lives.”