Hutto ISD announced Thursday that Brad LaPlante will take over as the school district's new athletic director and head football coach. LaPlante has worked as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for the past five years, serving under outgoing coach Steve Van Meter. Van Meter is retiring after five years serving as the Hutto ISD head coach and more than three decades as a high school football coach. “Hutto ISD is in great hands with Brad LaPlante as the next athletic director and football coach,” Van Meter said in a news release Thursday. "His knowledge of the game and his compassion for kids has been a big part of who Brad is in his four years in Hutto, and I know he will take that to another level.” LaPlante has previous coaching experience at both the junior college and high school level. The incoming HISD athletic director spent 11 years coaching at Rochester Community and Technical College in Minnesota, including seven years as the school's head coach. LaPlante also worked as head coach at Northwest Mississippi Community College for one years, as well as a year at New Caney High School. Previously, LaPlante worked as a coach for two years at Alvin ISD. “[LaPlante] received overwhelming support from the interview committee comprised of parents, community members, athletic coaches and district leadership. I have the utmost confidence in Mr. LaPlante's vision for the district's athletic program," said HISD Superintendent Celina Estrada Thomas in Thursday's news release. HISD will begin spring football practice Monday, April 16. The 2017 team went 11-2 on the season and reached the regional semi-finals.