Inside the Bird Cage: The Year Bryan Maggard Cemented His Legacy

Dr. Bryan Maggard has announced he is headed home after nine years as Athletic Director/VP of Intercollegiate Athletics at Louisiana. He and his wife, Kerry, are headed back to Kansas City, where they will have the opportunity to be with their two daughters and new grandchild.

And over the last week or so, there have been many opinions about what his biggest achievement was.

Was it the hiring of Billy Napier? Was it spearheading the fundraising and building of the west side structure at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium? Was it the handling of the situation in softball which resulted in a coaching change? What about the 2020-21 athletic season in the aftermath of COVID-19?

All of those things are part of Dr. Maggard's legacy.

But his shining moment was done mostly behind the scenes.

It was 2019…a year that, to use a cliché', wasn't on his bingo card.

It was the year that Dr. Maggard's leadership skills were tested like never before…or since.

It started on January 24th. An unspeakable tragedy hit the athletics department and the softball program when Geri Ann Glasco, the youngest daughter of the then-Cajuns' softball coach and a volunteer assistant on the staff, was killed in an automobile accident on Interstate 10.

It was up to Dr. Maggard, not only to provide aid and comfort to Coach Glasco and his family, but also to provide comfort, support and counseling for the 2019 softball team, all of whom had already bonded with the 24-year old assistant.

But that tragic time was just the beginning.

About six weeks later, 59-year-old Leonard Wiltz, who had retired from the University after 35 years of service, passed away as well. Even though he was retired, Leonard still worked part time helping with equipment. He traveled on the team plane in football and was a tireless worker. While fans may not have known him, Leonard Wiltz was well known in the athletics department and were mourning his passing.

Then, just six days later, longtime equipment manager Lynn Williams died. His passing was a gut-punch to every single person with whom Lynn had ever had contact. His heart was even bigger than he was. No one loved the University and its athletic department more than Lynn. He was everyone's friend. And, again, Dr. Maggard not only had to provide comfort for the family, but for the hundreds of student-athletes he served.

As the leader of the department, Bryan Maggard had to put his personal feelings aside. There was much work to be done and so many student-athletes who needed to know how much the department cared about them as people.

But there was more to come.

The name Mastern St. Julien, Jr. may not mean much to those of you reading this. But to the men's basketball and baseball teams, he was part of the family. Everyone knew him as "Saint." He was the bus driver for the teams. Saint always had a smile on his face and had great interaction with the players on both teams for a decade. He died suddenly at home at age 68 on June 3rd . His funeral was widely attended by friends, family, and many in the athletic department.

Then, one month to the day later, came a tragedy that affected the sport, the department, the University and the entire community. I don't need to write a lot about Tony Robichaux. The sudden passing of the beloved head baseball coach sent shock waves through the University, the community and throughout the college baseball world. And, again, it was Dr. Maggard who was the point man for the family, the players and coaches and, in this case, the Acadiana area. It was Dr. Maggard who had to appear in front of the tv cameras and the press. He had to show strength that even he may not have known he had. Then, three weeks later, he introduced Matt Deggs as the new face of the baseball program. My guess is he didn't sleep much during those three weeks.

Now, here's the part no one talks about or probably even thinks about.

Bryan Maggard has feelings, too. But for a six-month period, he had no time to grieve personally over the losses the university endured. The façade cracked for just a minute when he introduced Coach Deggs and referenced Kerry. She was the one that he had leaned on during his own grief. And, when he said "I owe you some quality time," the emotion finally showed through.

And then, finally, after all the months dealing with tragedy, it was finally over.

Until it wasn't.

Because it was toward the end of the calendar year, there was another hurdle to clear. This one wasn't about the school. It wasn't about players. It wasn't about coaches.

It was about the love of his life. Kerry Maggard was diagnosed with breast cancer. This one was personal and he had to show a strength that events of 2019 may or may not have prepared him for. The woman who had been his rock as he navigated some rough seas was now facing a personal battle. It was so ironic that it was the year the Cajuns played in the Cure Bowl.

It was time to be HER rock. And, he was. We all have rejoiced with them as Kerry is now cancer-free.

So, we can discuss accomplishments in facilities, excellence on the field, conference championships and other things that happened with Bryan Maggard as the head of the athletic department.

But make no mistake. His finest hour was actually his finest year.

And, for that, we owe him. Big time.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Inside the Bird Cage: The Year Bryan Maggard Cemented His Legacy

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