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It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In Sieper, LA

Home Care Sieper, LA

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Fort Derussy State Historic Site gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Sieper, LA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Sieper, LA

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care started helping me in July, 2022. My husband needs daily care and we have been more than pleased with the caregivers that they have provided. The Staff is so professional and efficient, yet like family at the same time. Their focus is on their patients and the families. They have made my life so much easier. Highly recommend!!”

Tusi
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TESTIMONIALS

“My Grandmother is a client with Dementia and wanted to stay in her home. Always Best Care has allowed her to do so, and our family is forever grateful. Thank you Always Best Care!”

Cynthia W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“By far the best personality for this job. Plenty of patience and a bubbly attitude. I will definitely be using her again when I’m ready to sell. I highly recommend her.”

Joseph P.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Summer Riggs made new homeownership a reality for our family. I highly recommend Summer Riggs!”

Kimberly M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“My husband and I will be gone on a 50th anniversary vacation trip for 14 days. During that time our wonderful caregiver has agreed to be “on-call”. We are so grateful for her and there is no way we could take this trip without the peace of mind that her presence gives me! Thank you ABC for the service that your company provides and for the personal touch that you and your sister provide. Marilyn Get Outlook for iOS”

Marilyn H.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Current employer I love the staff everyone is very understanding and the clients are nice and you will never find a better place to work and they are very respectful, understanding and caring bosses. They pair you up with clients that matches your personality. I really love working for this company and how they treat their employees.”

Betty W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Summer has always been excited about new homes and it shows in her work. She loves her job because she gets to find the perfect home for her clients. I highly recommend Summer to anyone looking to buy or sell a home.”

Tiffany S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care was a GOD send for me. I did not worry about my Mother . I could go to work and know she was in excellent hands Very professional. Came on time. Treated us like family”

Corey W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“We've been extremely pleased with Always Best Care of Monroe. They've been very helpful and the caregiver that we have working for us is fantastic. I would give them a very high recommendation. They started in July and have done exactly what we wanted them to do for our needs, and met those needs.”

Marilyn
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TESTIMONIALS

“They have been taking care of my mother for the past 8 years. Their care providers have been the absolute best in the industry. Our mom has been very happy with all the care providers we have used through Always Best Care.”

Patty A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They provide the best care! The Owners are nurses and have been in the business for over 25 years.”

Ruben T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They have been taking care of my mother for the past 8 years. Their care providers have been the absolute best in the industry. Our mom has been very happy with all the care providers we have used through Always Best Care.”

Rhonda S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care was a GOD send for me. I did not worry about my Mother . I could go to work and know she was in excellent hands Very professional. Came on time. Treated us like family Cotton Bradford”

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What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Sieper, LA?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Sieper, LA

Types of Elderly Care in Sieper, LA

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Sieper, LA
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Sieper, LA
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Lake Fausse Pointe State Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Sieper, LA
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local La Truffe Sauvage or visit Port Hudson State Historic Site, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Sieper, LA

Benefits of Home Care in Sieper, LA

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Sieper, LA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Sieper, LA

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your LA's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Sieper, LA

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Sieper, LA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Sieper, LA

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Sieper, LA

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • The Claiborne at Shoe Creek
  • Southern Pines Retirement Community
  • Woodbriar Southern Style Assisted Living & Memory Care
  • The Claiborne at Baton Rouge
  • West Towne Assisted Living Community
  • Prairie Manor Nursing Home
Home Care Sieper, LA

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Sieper, LA

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Sieper, LA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Sieper, LA

Latest News in Sieper, LA

A ‘Cinderella’ Story of the Ages: How Southern Miss Men’s basketball completed one of biggest turnarounds in NCAA basketball history

Over the past couple of years, Southern Miss fans have turned a blind eye to Southern Miss men’s basketball after Southern Miss football and just turned their eyes to the upcoming baseball season. The team hadn’t had a winning season in four straight seasons. Worse, Southern Miss did not even reach double-digit wins in those four years of painful basketball.Southern Miss head coach J...

Over the past couple of years, Southern Miss fans have turned a blind eye to Southern Miss men’s basketball after Southern Miss football and just turned their eyes to the upcoming baseball season. The team hadn’t had a winning season in four straight seasons. Worse, Southern Miss did not even reach double-digit wins in those four years of painful basketball.

Southern Miss head coach Jay Ladner decided they had had enough of the losing. Ladner, hired in 2019, had gotten the Southern Miss job he had always dreamed of. Ladner is a graduate of Southern Miss and a USM basketball player who played for the 1987 NIT championship team. During his press conference after being announced as a coach, Ladner said that Southern Miss was a “destination job, not a stop,” He clearly wanted to be here and return Southern Miss basketball to its glory.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. In Ladner’s inaugural season, the Golden Eagles posted a 9-22 record, losing all but one of their away games. The Golden Eagles could not play in the 2020 Conference USA championship due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The following season saw no improvement. In a unique and weird season due to all of the Covid-19 precautions, Southern Miss posted an 8-17 record, again failing even to reach double-digit wins.

In 2021, Ladner’s third season with the program, Southern Miss, again did not reach ten wins, with a record of 7-26.

Ladner’s job was seriously jeopardized after this season in the spring of 2022. A good bit of the Southern Miss roster was transferring, and Ladner’s job was hanging in the balance. Nevertheless, Southern Miss athletic director Jeremey McClain did not fire him and just asked Ladner for improvement.

Ladner then jumped up and went to work in the offseason, grabbing players out of the portal, including guard Austin Crowley, and making one of the most consequential coaching hires in Juan Cardona. Cardona had spent two seasons at Mercer before coming to Southern Miss; he also had experience in the international field, including leading the Puerto Rican U-17 National Team to a gold medal at the Centrobasket Tournament in 2007.

Nevertheless, Cardona brought culture to Southern Miss men’s basketball that USM fans will remember for long.

“Our culture is just so much better,” Ladner said what the most significant change he had seen in the offseason at basketball media day in September.

Cardona was a massive component in bringing Neftali Alverez to Southern Miss along with Felipe Hasse, who became household names just a few months later.

“It’s about them, and we are just riding the wave with them.” Cardona said earlier in October, right before the season started on the 4th Street Sports Show.

Even with all of these transfers, all the new coaches they got seemed to be positive; however, Ladner knew that it all mattered about the results.

“It’s time for us to win some ball games. I want to make sure that everybody understands that we understand that. I understand that more than anybody.” Lander said at basketball media day in September.

Southern Miss was picked last (No.14) in the preseason Sun Belt poll, much to Cardona’s displeasure.

“They picked us 14, but they will regret picking us 14…I know when I see a team that can go places. I’ve told coach I’ll take this team over anybody.” Cardona said in October.

But no one but the team could have imagined what would come next.

The team had claimed the title of La Familia, which means family in Spanish, to remind themselves that they were family but also to show that this group had a different swagger.

Southern Miss began the 2022 season with a drubbing of Delta State in the exhibition match. Even with that win and the 75-42 season-opening victory over William Carey, the tide turned on November 11th.

Southern Miss traveled to Vanderbilt for a non-conference SEC matchup. While not known for being the blueblood in college basketball, the Commodores seemed a step up for the Eagles. But they proved this team was different, capturing a double-digit 60-48 victory to move to 3-0.

Then, they started winning. And winning. And winning. Picking up non-conference wins over Liberty, Winthrop, Montana, and McNeese State. The Golden Eagles headed into Conference play with an 11-2 record.

After starting the Sun Belt slate with two straight victories over Troy and Appalachian State, Ladner kept with his message.

Our goal and vision are the same as it was since we arrived, and that help returns Southern Miss basketball…back to its rightful place of national respect in men’s basketball,” said Ladner after the App State game.

The Golden Eagles dropped their first conference games at Louisiana and Marshall before winning seven straight games to set up arguably the biggest Southern Miss basketball game in years in Reed Green Coliseum. Southern Miss and Louisiana were battling for sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt, and the USM faithful predicted a sellout.

The Golden Eagles were undefeated at home, and Louisiana was on a hot streak. For forward DeAndre Pinckney, who had been with the program for all of the rough times mentioned in this article, it was a dream come true to him when he came out that night warm-up seeing the stands filled.

“It just feels so good to be out there and you look out in the stands and all these people are there for you. It’s a great feeling. I never thought I would ever experience this in my life. But I’m thankful for this opportunity for sure.” Pinckney said.

Southern Miss beat Louisiana 82-71 in front of 8,097 fans at Reed Green Coliseum. A sight that nobody but the team had seen forthcoming. A team that had posted just seven wins the past season and had not even had a double-digit season since the 2018-19 season got to play the biggest USM basketball game than the old days when Memphis would come to Hattiesburg.

It was a sight for the ages and a memory that Southern Miss fans will remember for a long time. Cardona predicted it back in October, a prediction that at the time seemed so far-fetched, but it became a reality.

“Get your season tickets now, because you’re not going to want to miss out. Because we are going to fill it up,” Cardona said on October 10th on the 4th Street Sports Show.

After that, Southern Miss dealt with injuries that derailed their chance at an at-large spot in the NCAA tournament.

But, on the final game of the regular season, they claimed the Sun Belt Regular Season Championship. After being picked last in the Sun Belt preseason poll, they finished number one after the season.

“It shows you how useless polls are,” Ladner said in February.

Southern Miss also finished the season 15-0 at home. This accomplished one of the goals the coaching staff set at the beginning of the year.

“It doesn’t feel real. I was sitting in the locker room before and said ‘wow,'” Haase said after achieving this. “We tried to build the program back up, and we feel like we did that.”

The accolades did not stop there; Ladner was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year heading into the tournament. Considering that he was on the verge of being fired just under a year earlier, to have that much success is a turnaround for the ages.

“If you had told me last year that I would be the Coach of the Year this particular day, I would have said it would have probably been for coaching in high school. I was very close to having to go find a high school job. It’s just been an incredible turnaround, and I have to give all the credit to our staff and players for the turnaround.” Ladner said after winning the award.

Crowley, another household name now, was named Sun Belt newcomer of the year and made the first-team all-Sun Belt team averaging 16.2 points per game.

Unfortunately, the Golden Eagles were unable to make the NCAA tournament after going 0-2 in postseason play, losing the opening round of the Sun Belt tournament to South Alabama and the opening round of the NIT to UAB to end the season.

Historically in college basketball, the season was one of the biggest single-season turnarounds in NCAA history, with the record being an 18-game swing; Southern Miss had an 18-game swing. They needed one more victory for the record.

Ladner knew that nothing in the postseason would detract from what he and the staff did this season.

“I would have never anticipated that we set the school record for wins and won the league for only the second time in school history, we won it outright, and we were 15-0 at home. They did so many good things and I don’t want the last couple of games but to take away from what they accomplished,” Ladner said.

The season was astonishing, and it all started with a determination by one man who was at his dream job to get this program turned around.

In every sense of the expression, he delivered. He gave Southern Miss fans a season that will likely be remembered for generations.

And he gave 8,097 fans a chance to say, “I was there when we sold out Reed Green after winning just seven games the previous season.”

Larry Boyd, who played for Southern Miss basketball and this season was a commentator on the ESPN+ broadcast, noted that he believed that the team had brought Southern Miss basketball back.

“I was fortunate to get to watch them many times on the ESPN+ broadcast and could tell that there was something very special about this group of guys. The way they really seemed to enjoy each other and enjoyed playing basketball was obvious. They brought Southern Miss basketball back!” said Boyd.

Ladner deserves a statue, but with how humble he is, he probably wouldn’t accept it. He always sent the praise back to the players and staff.

“I’m forever indebted to them,” Ladner said.

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Derek Westfall: Queens

Men’s lacrosse

Brian Kubiak: Florida Southern

Colin Kruger: Boston

Scott Moore: High Point

Men’s soccer

Phillip Falcon: Pennsylvania

Newsome

Baseball

Evan Dempsey: Florida Gulf Coast

Brian Young: Capital

Plant

Baseball

Trey Freeman: Trinity College

Mike Hawks: Hillsborough Community College

Jack Meade: Hillsborough Community College

Robert Satin: Florida

Men’s basketball

Will Willard: Eckerd

Softball

Grace Ciccarello: Eckerd

Lauren Luciani: Belmont

Teagan Riley: Lynn

Women’s basketball

Morgan Sieper: Southern Mississippi

Women’s rowing

Grace De La Torre: Stanford

Women’s soccer

Tanner Strickland: Kentucky

Keswick Christian

Women’s beach volleyball

Lauren Cook: Pepperdine

Sydney Melcher: Florida Southern

River Ridge

Men’s cross country

Chase Thurber: Western Carolina

Softball

Sophie Johnson: Wichita State

Jayda Smith: Pasco Hernando State College

Women’s lacrosse

Kylie Clune: Huntingdon

Izzy Colon: Kent State

Isabella DeCoste: West Virginia Wesleyan

Kenzie Wilson: Huntingdon

Sickles

Softball

DaNia Brooks: USF

Strawberry Crest

Softball

Hannah Booth: Webber

Kylee Dodson: Lynn

Ariana Rego: Lynn

Women’s soccer

Ezra Carpenter: Lees-McRae

Sunlake

Volleyball

Maddie Snider: Florida State

Women’s lacrosse

Isabella Eby: Converse

Olivia Jacinto: Tampa

Tampa Prep

Women’s beach volleyball

Rylee Johnson: Utah

Women’s volleyball

Ella Free: LaTourneau

Autumn Martinez-Robinson: George Mason

Maddie Newton: Millersville

Alexa Peguero: Colby

Maya Van Heyst: Wingate

Wiregrass Ranch

Softball

Kylee Johnson: Clemson

Southern Miss suffers worst conference loss in history to South Alabama 55-3.

MOBILE, Ala – The South Alabama (4-3, 2-1 Sun Belt) curse lives on.After tonight, Southern Miss (1-6, 0-4 Sun Belt) may need a priest to perform an exorcist to get rid of this curse because it just keeps getting worse each time.This is a real low point for Southern Miss football.South Alabama, a team tha...

MOBILE, Ala – The South Alabama (4-3, 2-1 Sun Belt) curse lives on.

After tonight, Southern Miss (1-6, 0-4 Sun Belt) may need a priest to perform an exorcist to get rid of this curse because it just keeps getting worse each time.

This is a real low point for Southern Miss football.

South Alabama, a team that had not even played Southern Miss in football before the 2020 season, absolutely dismantled and dominated every facet of the game, leading to a 55-3 victory over Southern Miss, the largest margin of defeat in conference history for Southern Miss.

Even with the extra few days to prepare for the game, Southern Miss had no answers and, for most of the night, did not even look like they belonged on the same field as the Jaguars.

“They kicked our butt in every way,” Southern Miss head coach Will Hall said.

Hall laid out a perfect summary of a dreadful reality.

South Alabama wholly dominated from start to finish in one of Hall’s worst conference losses in his career.

Specific issues in each game thus far had kept the team from succeeding throughout the season. In this game, however, everything held the team back from succeeding. They failed in almost every aspect of the game tonight and did not score an offensive touchdown for the second week in a row and the third time this season.

It was a one-possession game last season, and this year, it did not even look like these teams were in the realm of competition.

South Alabama’s domination was fueled by a big day from running back La’Damian Webb. Webb rushed 20 times for 102 yards and four touchdowns. Southern Miss missed many tackles in open space tonight throughout the game, paving the way to 287 rushing yards for South Alabama.

Granted, USM’s defense has been banged up, and Hall mentioned that when asked what the biggest step back for this team is since last season.

“We have been really banged up in the secondary,” Hall said. “South Alabama did a great job of taking advantage of that tonight. We got guys playing over there that wasn’t even playing on defense a few weeks ago. I thought they [South Alabama] did a great job of exposing that.”

South Alabama scored touchdowns on their first four possessions to take a 28-0 lead late in the second quarter. The drives were not quick either; they were eight, 11, 14, and 10-play drives that were methodical, and they were carving up the defense.

The defense needed answers for Webb or Jaguar starting quarterback Carter Bradley. Bradley threw for 319 yards on 21-27 passing and no touchdowns.

He started 9-9 before his first incompletion.

“We didn’t tackle well first of all,” Southern Miss linebacker Swayze Boseman said. “It seemed like there was one guy out of the gap almost every play. It’s kind of the theme of our season, we had 10 guys do it right and then one guy doesn’t,”

That theme was not true tonight because no one did it right at any point in the game. It was also the third time the defense has given up 50 or more points this season, the second time in conference.

Southern Miss’s lone scoring drive came on a 10-play, 61-yard drive where Andrew Stein nailed a 32-yard field goal to deny South Alabama the shutout.

Hall benched the starting quarterback, Billy Wiles, for Holman Edwards because the offense was playing badly.

“I just feel like it was something we needed to do,” Hall said. “We have lost several games in a row. It’s not that Billy was playing bad, but I thought we needed to change it up and see what we can get. See if it would spark us.”

Unfortunately for the team, it did not.

Edwards finished the day 5-15 passing for 41 yards and an interception. Wiles finished the day with 2-5 passing for five yards.

At some point, there has to be a winning product put onto the field, and this product that Southern Miss is putting out is just not it.

Jackson Kennedy

“We’re not as far away as I think it seems,” Hall said. “We got to keep recruiting and keep building and keep going.”

It sure seemed like they were pretty far away from South Alabama tonight, and enough where there will need to be significant change in this football program to see any success in the future.

Southern Miss falls to 1-6, 0-4 Sun Belt. It is the lowest Southern Miss football has been in a long time, and it seems that with how the schedule is laid out…it will only get worse.

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USM Basketball’s historic turnaround turned Jay Ladner into Hattiesburg’s favorite son.

It seems unthinkable. Improbable. Impossible. Yet, here we are. A team that went 7-26 last season sits at 23-4 and holds a two-game lead in the Sun Belt. How did we get here?The buck stops with Jay Ladner. The Southern Miss Men’s Basketball head coach faced immense backlash entering this season, as his squ...

It seems unthinkable. Improbable. Impossible. Yet, here we are. A team that went 7-26 last season sits at 23-4 and holds a two-game lead in the Sun Belt. How did we get here?

The buck stops with Jay Ladner. The Southern Miss Men’s Basketball head coach faced immense backlash entering this season, as his squads had seven, eight and nine wins in each of the last three seasons, respectively. Despite the dismal three seasons, Ladner received a vote of confidence from USM Athletics Director Jeremy McClain. The Hattiesburg native knew his back was against the wall, though, and he immediately went to work.

In potentially the most impactful hire of the 2022 offseason, Ladner brought assistant coach Juan Cardona to Hattiesburg. Cardona, whose only collegiate coaching experience came in a two-year tenure at Mercer, was out of coaching and looking for a new home. A hidden gem doesn’t begin to describe it. Cardona brought an intense energy to Southern Miss, and he brought that in spades into the locker room. Ladner said in the preseason that he met Cardona on a recruiting trip in Miami, where Cardona was the coach of Miami Christian High School. The pair went to Hooters – yes, Hooters – after a practice to talk basketball, and the two formed a bond that would pay dividends years later.

With Cardona came transfers Neftali Alvarez and Felipe Haase. The latter is arguably the team’s heartbeat, while the former is a do-it-all guard who can do anything and everything on the court. Cardona coached the two at Miami Christian, and Haase and Alvarez both consider Cardona a father-figure. Naturally, the duo followed Cardona to Southern Miss.

“Without Juan, none of those guys would be at Southern Miss,” Ladner said.

Without Ladner, neither would Cardona.

Another player that followed an assistant coach was Austin Crowley, following Nick Williams from Ole Miss. The trio are just the tip of the iceberg of how Ladner’s team turned around.

Team chemistry was the main talking point by Ladner leading up to the 2022-23 campaign. Chemistry seems to be a buzzword in sports these days, but you can tell that there is something different about these Golden Eagles. Ladner quipped about all the Spanish being yelled at on the court between Cardona and the newcomers. Between them and the established players, Southern Miss has turned into a melting pot of greatness.

Speaking of the returning players, senior Deandre Pinckney leads the bunch. He’s been as efficient as his nickname says, and he’s seen plenty of lowlights at Southern Miss leading up to this year’s highlights. He is third on the team in scoring, with 39 points coming in the team’s two most recent games against Louisiana and Louisiana-Monroe, respectively. Mo Arnold provides great defense and stability as a starter, while Tyler Morman makes his presence felt defensively as well. Morman was one of the unsung heroes for the Golden Eagles against Louisiana by locking down Jordan Brown – this year’s preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year averaging nearly 20 points per game.

Prior to this season, Ladner said that he wanted his team to look like the Golden State Warriors. He was talking about the offense, but the main similarity has come in the form of winning. Nobody could have predicted this; with four games remaining, the Golden Eagles have a chance to make history. If Southern Miss wins three out of the final four regular season games, they will have increased their win total by 19 from the previous season. If they win their final four games, they will have achieved history with a 20-win improvement. The current record is a tie between 1979 Murray State and 1998 Ohio State with a 19-win improvement.

Excluding vacated wins, Ladner’s .270 win percentage during his first three years was the worst in program history. What’s worse is that he only went .189 in conference play over that span. Last year, his team only won one conference game. With a 23-4 record to date, Ladner has already boosted his win percentage at USM to .405 in the blink of an eye. Southern Miss is 14-0 at home this season while potentially having a chance to clinch a double-bye in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament with a win at South Alabama Thursday.

For Ladner, relief might not be a strong enough word. “It’s a whole lot better than losing. I can promise you that,” Ladner said.

The turnaround has to be extra special for Ladner. He practically went from one of the most hated men in Hattiesburg to one of the most beloved. That’s the nature of the business. As someone who grew up in the area, he knows this, too. Both of his parents worked at USM. He talks about how he grew up running around at the old gym on campus. He watched as the Golden Eagles joined Division I, and he watched as the program joined the Metro Conference before ultimately winning the 1987 NIT in the conference as a player. He watched from afar as the head coach at St. Stanislaus High School when USM joined Conference USA, and he helped the Golden Eagles join the Sun Belt with an exclamation point.

The contrast between the beginning of Ladner’s USM tenure to now could not be starker. Even the contrast between the first home game of the season to this month is eye-opening. Reed Green Coliseum seated 2,350 fans – 29% of the arena’s capacity – on Nov. 14 as Southern Miss defeated Loyola (LA) 86-62. Feb. 9, 8,097 fans among a sell-out crowd witnessed the Golden Eagles topple Louisiana to undisputedly claim first place in the conference. Saturday’s final home game has been announced to be a “gold-out.” If it’s anything like the “white-out” against Louisiana, then the Coliseum will be a madhouse once again.

The old saying is “Build it, and they will come.” Ladner exemplified that this year.

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