Byrd parts ways with football coach Stacy Ballew after 6 seasons

Following one of the most disappointing seasons in school history, Byrd High principal Jana Panos announced the removal of football coach Stacy Ballew on Thursday afternoon.The Jackets recently concluded a 1-9 season that included a 48-21 loss to archrival Captain Shreve in the 2026 season finale.Ballew was 33-34 (.492) in six seasons after taking over for longtime coach Mike Suggs, whom he had served as an assistant coach. He spent more than two decades at Byrd.“Coach Stacy Ballew, a Byrd graduate who has served this school for 20-plus years as a player, assistant coach and head coach,” said Panos, who took over as school principal this fall, in a release. “This decision is not a reflection of his character or effort. It is about the direction of the program. We will move quickly to post the position, and I am committed to conducting a comprehensive search for Byrd’s next head football coach.”GATOR POWER: Captain Shreve’s Gabe Lockett dials in dominating runs against ByrdThe release from the school said the school "will begin the process of identifying candidates to lead the program with a focus on building on Byrd’s longstanding football tradition while establishing a vision for its future."Among the potential candidates is Captain Shreve coach Jeremy Wilburn, a former Jacket quarterback.Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Byrd parts ways with football coach Stacy Ballew after 6 seasons