InspireNOLA Charter Schools

InspireNOLA Charter Schools and McDonogh 35 Senior High School are excited to announce that Frank Daggs, Jr.  has been named as the school’s new Head Varsity Football Coach. 

“Coach Daggs has been an integral part of the McDonogh 35 football program for nearly two decades and has established himself as a leader not only for our football team, but for all our scholars,” said InspireNOLA CEO Jamar McKneely. “I have no doubt he will continue to instill the values of leadership, sportsmanship, and integrity in our athletes as he pushes them to be the best they can be on and off the field.”

Daggs, 42, moves up to the Varsity Head Coach position to replace longtime legendary Coach Wayne Reese, Sr., who passed away on April 2, 2020, due to illness related to the Covid-19 Virus. Daggs had served under the tutelage of Coach Reese for the past 18 years.

“It’s a good feeling to be a head coach, but not a great one under the circumstances. However, I know Coach Reese would say, ‘Take over, lead them boys, and win games,’” Daggs said. “I would like to thank the InspireNOLA leadership and McDonogh 35 school administration for giving me an opportunity to carry on the tradition of McDonogh 35 Football and to work at this great academic institution.”

Football has been a part of Coach Dagg’s life since he was just six years old. “I started attending high school games with my mother, who was a local coach,” he said. “I also looked up to and had many mentors that I watched and learned from through the years. Coach Henry Crosby, who is in the LHSAA hall of Fame; Coach Anthony Biagas, who was my high school coach; and Coach Wayne Reese, my mentor for the last 18 years.”

With an extensive coaching background that has prepared him for his new role, Coach Daggs has served in various positions as an assistant coach at McDonogh 35. He spent 14 years as Program coordinator, 10 years as Defensive Coordinator, and the last 5 years as Assistant Head Coach.

“Football is all-inclusive, it brings the teams together, and we go from boys to men together throughout the process of growing mentally and physically,” he said.

Coach Daggs currently represents the Greater New Orleans High Schools on the Louisiana High School Coaches Association (LHSCA). He was the vice president of the board for the past two school years and will  ascend to the president’s position for the upcoming year. He is also an at-large member of the Louisiana Football Coaches Association (LFCA) and a committee member of the National Minority Coaches Association for The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the Louisiana Minority Coaches Network. 

Daggs is a proud alumnus of St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, where he was a member of the varsity football team. He continued his education at Nicholls State University, where he received a bachelor of science degree in Health and Physical Education.

“We feel very fortunate to have a coach the caliber of Coach Daggs on staff as we move forward after the untimely loss of longtime Coach Wayne Reese, Sr. He is a proven educator in the classroom and on the field,” said McDonogh 35 Principal Lee Green. “Coach Daggs as the best fit to lead our football program into the future.” 

Coach said he and the team are dedicated the upcoming season to the memory of Coach Reese.

“We lost our great leader, and because of that, we will not have to be motivated to play hard,” Coach Daggs said. “The seniors lead by example, and we will ride them all the way through.”