The Carencro basketball program has evolved from humble roots. Prior to the 2002-2003 season, Carencro High School had never once advanced to post-season play. Since that time, the Bears have been a consistently ranked as one of top teams in the Lafayette area and the state, averaging over 20 wins per season and consistently earning playoff positions.

Head Coach Christopher Kovatch (seen right with assistant head coach Albert Kovatch and the 2007-2008 team) is the most winning head boys basketball coach in the school’s history and has had players consistently place on the All-District, All-Lafayette Parish, and All-Acadiana teams. The Bears dominated the all-district lists in 2008 and 2009 with all-state players Patrick Richard (MVP) and Ricky Johnson.  In 2009 Johnson reigned supreme of the All-Acadiana team as MVP.  In addition to Johnson and Richard’s all-state honors in 2008 and 2009, Richey Menard garnered academic all-state honors in 2008 as well.  In 2004, Coach Kovatch was the runner-up for the state 5A coach of the year.

Under Coach Kovatch, many former Bears have advanced to the college level to play basketball. They are: Brandon Martin (Nicholls State University), Derrick Woods (Angelina Junior College & Ouachita Baptist University), La’Ryan Gary (University of Louisiana at Lafayette), Marcus Gardiner (Northland Junior College in Minnesota), Patrick Richard (McNeese State University), Derek Derouen (Brookhaven Junior College), and Ricky Johnson (Tulsa University). [pictures]