There’s a lot of strong emotion surrounding women’s basketball coach Dobee Plaisance’s transfer to Nicholls State University.

Plaisance announced that she was leaving Loyola at the end of May, and “we were very hurt,” Trenell Smith, management junior, said. “We’re just so used to Dobee.”

Brandon Rizzuto, director of media relations at Nicholls, said the 13-year coaching veteran of Loyola can’t talk about her old team without tearing up.

“I have, probably, more Loyola pictures up on my wall right now than Nicholls State,” Plaisance said.

But the Nicholls State women’s head coaching position, in the end, “was an opportunity for my family,” she said.

Last season, Plaisance led the Lady ‘Pack to the NAIA’s Elite Eight for first time in the program’s history and finished with a 28-7 record.

She left Loyola 157-223, reviving the program with three appearances in NAIA National Tournament in the last five seasons.

Catherine Blanchard, A’08, was considering playing for Loyola for one more year, but is now working on Plaisance’s staff in Nicholls while she earns her MBA.

“I just knew that my heart wasn’t in it enough to start over with a new coach,” Blanchard said. “I knew I shouldn’t play the next year if I wasn’t 100 percent into it.”

But working at Nicholls “is very exciting. I’m glad that I can help assist her and try and turn this program around. She (Plaisance) can do it. She did it at Loyola, she definitely has the capabilities, and I’m glad to be working alongside her.”

Nicholls State was 6-21 last season and 4-12 at conference. They lost every away game they played.

“The women’s program hasn’t had the best history in the last few years,” Blanchard said. “Right now everyone is super excited and can’t wait to see what Dobee will do here.”

“We’re going to try and make the best of what we have here (for this year),” Blanchard said, and in the upcoming years, Dobee “is looking to bring in … local kids and get the community back involved with the program.”

But back at Loyola, the confidence isn’t shaken either as the Lady Wolfpack moves forward with new head coach Kellie Kennedy.

“Not at all,” Smith said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence. I like Kellie. I think she’ll be able to continue our success.”

And the ‘Pack’s old coach will be watching.

“I’m very excited about the condition I left the team in,” Plaisance said.

“I’m going to be there as much as I can rooting them on to that national championship.”

Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at [email protected]