Coach Gerry Garidel begins his 46th year coaching football and his 16th year as coach at ZHS. Garidel is a 1970 graduate of Baton Rouge High School and a 1977 graduate of Louisiana State University. He earned his Master’s degree in Sports Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1995. He coached his first 30 years at Catholic High School where he served as Defensive Coordinator for 27 years and Head Baseball Coach for 28 years. Coach Garidel’s experience at ZHS has included 2 State Quarterfinal appearances in 2013 and 2020, 4 State Semifinal appearances in 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2022, 1 State Runner-up in 2023 and 4 State Championships Titles in 2015, 2017, 2018 & 2021. In 2019, he was inducted into the Catholic High Grizzly Greats Athletic Hall of Fame. Coach Garidel and his wife Sharon have three sons: Jamin, Jody and Jeffrey.
