As soon as it became public Gerry Glasco was taking the Texas Tech job, Alyson Habetz’s phone starting blowing up.
Whether it was family, friends, former teammates or even her old coach, her response was the same each time.
“No, I’m taking care of mom,” repeated Habetz, who retired after 25 years of coaching at Alabama last summer to return to her home in Crowley.
“No G (former UL coach Yvette Girouard), I’m taking care of mom.”
Yet a week later, Habetz was introduced as UL’s next softball coach in Russo Field’s packed stadium club Friday.
As the story goes, the texts persisted as she drove to Baton Rouge for a hair appointment in preparation for a speaking engagement at a retreat in North Dakota.
Her hair dresser even noticed all the facebook posts and text.
“I’m not doing this, I’m taking care of mom,” Habetz told her as well.
But driving on the interstate on her way back home, the spiritual UL Athletic Hall of Famer and former Notre Dame High baseball player looked out the window skyward.
“I said, ‘Oh Jesus, I usually include you in my big decisions, but I kind of thought this one was just an automatic,” Habetz revealed. “I did this (retire) a year ago. It’s kind of what I was called to do and I have peace in it, so it’s a hard no, right?’”
The response came in a phone call from old coaching friend Brooks Donald-Williams, who is a Jennings native who was an assistant basketball coach at Alabama from 2016-19 between being the head coach at McNeese from 2007-16 and then UL Monroe from 2019-23.
“She said, ‘I know you’re probably thinking no, but I have to give you some perspective,” Habetz relayed of the conversation. “When I was at McNeese, that was the best time ever when I coached. I wish I could get that back.
“She said, ‘You don’t know what that’s like Aly because you’ve been in Tuscaloosa.’”
Jennings to Lake Charles is only about 15 minutes longer than the short trip from Crowley to Lafayette.
“My mom and dad came to games, my people were there — the people that I grew up with, the people who raised me — they were there,” her friend told her. “My mom tells me to this day that I extended my grandmother’s life because she looked forward to coming to watch me coach basketball.”
In so many ways, that’s all Habetz needed to hear to change her tune.
“OK Lord, I hear you,” she thought.
“I just had to digest the possibility that mom could actually be a part of this. Instead of it being either or, it could be both. Her perspective was really critical in this pursuit.”
As a result, Habetz decided to have that meeting with UL director of athletics Dr. Bryan Maggard after all.
As Maggard told the gathering Friday, the two met for five hours at PJ’s Coffee in Scott last Saturday.
“That’s when I learned she was definitely interested,” he said. “My knees were bouncing under the table and my heart rate elevated, but I was committed to keeping a poker face.”
Habetz was impressed with Maggard’s zeal and craftiness. As soon as the interview died down, he asked Habetz to go visit her mother in Crowley.
“He is a game-changer,” Habetz laughed. “He spent five hours with me and then he wants to come meet my mom, are you kidding me?
“On my way to Crowley, I was like, ‘That little sneak, he's smooth. That was well played. As soon as mom met him, I was like, ‘Oh, it’s done.’”
Before accepting, Habetz asked her mother if she'd attend the games.
“Oh yeah baby, I’ll come to every game you have,” she responded.
Habetz’s mom continued to play a critical role in the process in Friday’s news conference, giving the mother of eight of which Alyson is the youngest a Cajun jersey as an honorary UL coach.
“Now scripture tells us the number seven represents completion,” Maggard told Deanna Habetz. “Now having you as a part of our team, we are complete.’
It was a relationship Maggard actually hoped would have begun seven years ago when he was searching for the right candidate to replace Michael Lotief in December of 2017.
Maggard talked with Habetz about the job then and the former Cajun first baseman gave it a thought.
“I always feel like this is home, so there was a part of me thinking, ‘I’ve got to help them. I’ve got to go back. I’ve got to help them because they’re my people,’” she said.
After telling a priest of the situation, his response quickly ended things.
“Aly, they have a ACA.ulhabetzintro.062924 and it’s not you.”
Instead, Habetz pointed Maggard toward Glasco, who had just taken an assistant’s job at Auburn.
“I knew him when he coached travel ball,” Habetz said of Glasco. “I love him like a brother. I love his wife Vicki, I love his family. I wish him the best of luck, I really do.”
Seven years later, that deep-down feeling of needing to help her old school and softball community matched up with the need to help her family.
“Throughout this process, I did a lot of praying,” Habetz said. “Every day, it became very clear God was part of the journey that led me here.
“I get to do something that I’m passionate about, surrounded by family and friends who have walked this journey with me throughout my life … I mean, wow.”
Habetz revealed during her first press conference that assistant coach Shellie Landry would be staying on as part of her staff, but there wasn’t much softball discussed.
This gathering was about reuniting with family.
“I’m finally home,” Habetz said as she asked all of her family in attendance to rise. “My family is my backbone. I loved my experience in Alabama. It was incredible. But my family was always here, so my heart was always torn. This is home because this is where my family is.”
Former teammates and coaches also attended, including former UL women’s basketball coach Dwayne Searle. In one of the news conference’s most poignant moments, Habetz thanked him for a ‘yes’ answer over three decades ago.
“I asked coach Searle if I could try out for the softball team,” Habetz reminded. “He was my basketball coach. If he says no, we’re not here. I never play softball. Do you understand how critical your answer to me was? It was life-changing. So thank you coach for your generosity and your selflessness.”
UL president Dr. Joseph Savoie revealed a young Habetz coached his sixth grade daughter and she suddenly interested in trying basketball during her playing days on the hardwood with the Cajuns.
“What a red-letter day,” Savoie said. “One of our heroes has come home.
“She’s been one of my heroes for a long time.”