Haynes Academy is a highly prestigious magnet school in the greater New Orleans area, but for the longest time, that’s all the school was known for. It was a great academic school that would make dents in other sports, but never moved the needle in football. At least, that was the case, until the 2024 football season. Now? Anything is on the table moving forward.
That’s certainly the sentiment of new Head Coach PJ Sprunk, who took the job this offseason after coaching at Kenner Discovery for 6 years. After years without success, the Haynes Academy football team woke up and took their district by storm with a magical undefeated regular season in 2024. It was their first winning season since 2016, and their first time making it to the 2nd round of the playoffs in program history. It was a year straight from a fairy tale, and now Coach Sprunk is tasked with turning that fairy tale into a regular occurrence to be expected.
It has everything you want. It’s one of the top academic schools in the state with a college level weight room and great support from the administration. Last year was just a stepping stone. We’re returning 17 starters across the board. We got to see them on the field the first time in the offseason this week, and it was electric. It’s not just a hobby here, it’s a way of life. And the kids are so academically gifted, they work hard in the classroom and the field, that there are unique opportunities for them.
Haynes Academy Head Coach PJ Sprunk
Despite Haynes Academy’s lack of pedigree, this is quite a step up in terms of starting points for Coach Sprunk. His last job at Kenner Discovery saw him begin with a football team of 11 kids, starting a program from scratch. He still managed nearly a .500 record in those 6 years there, with a number of solid seasons in that time, making the playoffs in 4 of those 6 years. He has a lot more to work with to start out, but the process of building a program still looks the same to Coach Sprunk, no matter what step on the ladder you start out at.
Before you get to Xs and Os, you have to build an have a consistent culture. We won games at Kenner Discovery because of our culture, because we out-worked people. I see the same thing here – they want to out-work people. We caught a lot of eyes last year, and we are going to make even more waves this year. After practice one, we already have player-led leadership and coaches that are full of energy and excitement. This is a great spot to be in right now.
Haynes Academy Head Coach PJ Sprunk
A large part of that culture is made by surrounding the team with the right assistant coaches, and Coach Sprunk has assembled a staff that he feels really good about. He brought Ty Buggage along with him from Kenner Discovery to continue coaching Defensive Line. Coach Buggage has coached around the area for almost 20 years, and he brings a lot of expertise into the room. He also retained two coaches from the prior staff at Haynes: Paul Longo Jr and Steve Stropolo. Coach Longo is the son of former Haynes Head Coach Paul Longo, and he brings a lot of youth and energy to the coaching room. Coach Stropolo is a longtime veteran football coach who will be contributing heavily to the offensive side of the ball. Finally, Coach Sprunk has brought in Paddy Lewis from Ben Franklin. They have wanted to coach for a long time, and he is looking for Coach Lewis to act as a hype man for the team.
We want great coaches and great people too. We want guys who will set a great example for our players, so they set a great example when they leave here. It’s not just about football.
Haynes Academy Head Coach PJ Sprunk
Those coaches have helped contribute to a culture that already seems to be blossoming. A consistent hallmark of a good program from every Head Coach you’ll ever talk to is a locker room led by the players. When the example of how to act is being correctly set by the oldest kids in the room, the team is heading in the right direction, and we’re already seeing examples of this at Haynes early on. Just in their first full practices together, there are juniors and seniors staying late after practice to get work in together. Those are the signs of a team that is heading in the right direction.
Whenever you can have player-led leadership along with what the coaches are doing, it creates a great culture and a great team. I’m a yeller, I like to motivate. But the first two weeks here, I hadn’t even raised my voice yet, because I didn’t need to. The facilities, the administration we have, we’re a sleeping giant. After last year, we have a target on our back, and now it’s a challenge for us to maintain that level.
Haynes Academy Head Coach PJ Sprunk
Coach Sprunk is also experience in finding ways to help his players gain opportunities and exposure. He has coached in the Gridiron Football All-American Bowl game for the last 4 years, bringing some of his players from Kenner Discovery along with him each year. Last year, he was named the Head Coach of Team Tigers, and he led them to a 19-13 victory. Getting to help coach the bowl game has become one of his favorite things to do each year.
I’ve been involved with Gridiron for a few years now, and every year it gets better and better. We took the loss the year before, but when I got named the head coach a few weeks later, I knew I was going to go and win this game. Eric Holden, my OC, he should be a Head Coach or a coordinator on someone’s staff right now. Coach Tyler Lewis was my DC last year, and he’ll be the Head Coach next year, none more deserving. Coach Zach Hand from Caldwell Parish also helped a lot, as did every coach on our team. It’s all about the kid. The win was awesome, but this was about the kids. Having a group of coaches that cared about the kids and their well-being was truly special last year. It was really exciting. At the end of the day, it doesn’t go on the coaching record, but it still means a lot.
Haynes Academy Head Coach PJ Sprunk
Now Haynes looks forward to next season, where there are quite a number of players looking to build upon their successful 2024 campaign.
Quarterback:
Haynes returns their signal caller from the 2024 season, 2026 QB Trent Helwig. He’s going to be a 4 year starter for the team, bringing a dual threat ability to the position. At 6’2″ 180 lbs, he can move the ball on the ground or in the air for them.
Running Back:
Lochlan Claverie was the engine behind the Haynes offense last season, rushing for an incredible 2000 yards in 2024. That will always be tough to replace, but 2027 RB Brady Cribby has plenty of traits himself. He’s tough with a quick twitch, and already got some playing time last year, so he has everything needed to fill the big shoes that are being left in Claverie’s wake.
Wide Receiver:
Helwig has a couple of great pass catchers to throw to in this offense. 2027 WR Gabe Estevez returns after a productive sophomore season, and 2028 WR Sebastian Gonzales will begin contributing at a young age this year. They have some of size on the outside, as Estevez and Gonzales stand at 6’2″ and 6’1″ respectively.
Offensive Line:
Even though Claverie isn’t returning, the entire line that blocked for his 2,000 yard season is. Rising senior Takoda Lirette will return to lead the way as the Center, with Bradley Perry, Will Shexnayder, and Brandon Willson all returning the bolster the line as well. There are high hopes to replicate the run game Haynes had last year with this line returning, as there are some things these players have that you can’t quite coach.
Defensive Line:
The defensive line returns a number of players from last season, including rising senior leader Matt Bonura and class of 2027 DL Timmy Cagle. Cagle has the combination of size and toughness to cause havoc on the edge. The biggest addition, however, is class of 2026 DL Sam Adams, who put on some weight in the offseason to switch from LB, and is the strongest player in the room.
Linebacker:
One of the biggest leaders of the entire team class of 2027 LB Carter Sternberger, the captain of the defense. He’s the first guy in and the last guy out every day for practice, and has been taking the iniative to be a leader on this team and work with the younger players. He’s got a great combination of strength and quickness too, and his work alongside fellow 2027 LB Ryan Aucoin makes the linebacker room one of the strengths of this Haynes team.
Secondary:
Haynes returns a lot of starters in the secondary. 2026 CB Zach Poynter has put in immense work in the weight room, showing the best pound for pound strength on the team. On his opposite side is 2027 CB Hudson Walker, with Will Martz and Graham Boudreau rotating in as well. Alongside 2028 safety Devyn White (no relation to the star LSU LB), this group should look to pick up right where they left off last season.
For the first time in a long time, Haynes Academy has real hype going into football season. WIth that comes a lot of expectations, and we can’t wait to see how Coach Sprunk the whole group over there handles them.
67
0
24.77k
20
