FRANKLIN -- Franklin Senior High head football coach and athletic director Zeb Simon was relieved of his duties last week by FSH principal Tybus Burdett.

Simon was 12-18 in three years at the school. In 2009 the Hornets finished 2-8 overall and 1-4 in District 6-3A.

“I thought that it was time to take the football program in a different direction than it was headed,” said Burdett, who wouldn’t elaborate on what direction the program was headed and why a change needed to be made at this time.

Zeb Simon, former Franklin Senior High head football coach. - Bill Smith / The Daily Iberian Advertisement

The FSH principal noted that the school is currently taking applications for the job and he hopes to make a recommendation to the St. Mary Parish School Board in February for the next head coach and athletic director.

Franklin is one of three St. Mary Parish high schools making changes to its football head coach/ athletic director post. West St. Mary head coach and AD Andre Lockley retired after the football season, and Morgan City hired Carroll assistant coach Brett Bonnafons to replace coach Mark Millet.

Simon, who left Jeanerette to take over at Franklin after the retirement of close friend and former FSH coach Jerry Martin, was surprised at the news.

“I was told by the principal that he was looking in terms of the program going in a different direction and that I would no longer be his AD and football coach,” said Simon.

The former FSH coach said that when he was hired at Franklin, he and Burdett were on the same page over what was needed for the football program, but that has changed.

“Three years ago when I came here we had the same philosophy,” said Simon. “But right now our philosophies are different. I feel like as though after inheriting a a program that was so financially in debt and with no one to aid us in getting out of the hole, once we started getting the program going in the right direction, I feel as though my services are not needed here anymore.”

Simon, who is still at the school in a teaching capacity, was having second thoughts about originally taking the job three years ago.

“If I had known that the loyalty did not exist among certain people at Franklin High, coupled with some of the coaches on staff, I doubt that I would have taken the job,” he said. “When it was time to make changes here, there were certain people that were not receptive to changes that I made, and after I made the changes, it seemed to become a personal vendetta against me.”

Simon wouldn’t elaborate on the causes of the situation, but wanted it to be known that he did not resign.

Burdett said that he respected Simon and what he did for the school during his time as head coach but thought the time had come to go in a different direction.

“I admire and respect Coach Simon and what he did for the program,” said Burdett. “But I also thought that the time had come to make a change and this was a good time to make the change. It was nothing personal against Coach Simon or anything about his record last year, it was time for a change.”

Simon thought there was another reason for the change.

“I truly believe that someone from Franklin is going to get the job and that there was pressure put on from certain people to see that a person from Franklin returned to get the job as head football coach and athletic director,” said Simon. “That coupled with the other things I said about philosophical differences and coaches not receptive to change added up and the principal decided to go in a different direction.”

Simon said that he will stay at Franklin through the end of the year.

“I plan on staying here and fulfilling my duties as a PE/Health teacher,” said Simon. “I still feel like I have several good years left to coach. I enjoy coaching and making a difference in the lives of young people. Nothing is guaranteed at this moment but if something comes up, I’ll apply for it.”