| Brad Laird | |
| Current Title: | Head coach |
| Current Team: | Natchitoches Central HS (LA) |
| Current Record: | 0–0 |
| Birth Date: | 20 June 1973[1] |
| Player Years1: | 1991–1995 |
| Player Team1: | Northwestern State |
| Player Positions: | Quarterback |
| Coach Years1: | 1996 |
| Coach Team1: | Northwestern State (GA) |
| Coach Years2: | 1997 |
| Coach Team2: | West Monroe HS (LA) (assistant) |
| Coach Years3: | 1998 |
| Coach Team3: | Ouachita HS (AR) (assistant) |
| Coach Years4: | 1999–2000 |
| Coach Team4: | Longview HS (TX) (QB) |
| Coach Years5: | 2001–2002 |
| Coach Team5: | Nashville HS (AR) (assistant) |
| Coach Years6: | 2003–2004 |
| Coach Team6: | Northwestern State (DC/LB) |
| Coach Years7: | 2005 |
| Coach Team7: | Northwestern State (DC/DB) |
| Coach Years8: | 2007 |
| Coach Team8: | Stephen F. Austin (LB) |
| Coach Years9: | 2008 |
| Coach Team9: | Northwestern State (DC) |
| Coach Years10: | 2009 |
| Coach Team10: | Northwestern State (AHC/co-DC) |
| Coach Years11: | 2010–2011 |
| Coach Team11: | Northwestern State (AHC/DC) |
| Coach Years12: | 2013–2016 |
| Coach Team12: | Ruston HS (LA) |
| Coach Years13: | 2017 |
| Coach Team13: | Northwestern State (AHC/DC) |
| Coach Years14: | 2018–2023 |
| Coach Team14: | Northwestern State |
| Coach Years15: | 2024–present |
| Coach Team15: | Natchitoches Central HS (LA) |
| Overall Record: | 16–41 (college) 28–18 (high school) |
Brad Laird (born June 20, 1973) is an American college football coach. He is the head coach at Natchitoches Central High School in Natchitoches, Louisiana, a position he has held since 2024.[2] He was the head football coach at Northwestern State University from 2018 to 2023. He previously served as an assistant football coach at Northwestern State, Stephen F. Austin State University, and various coaching positions at several high schools. Laird played college football at Northwestern State University, where he played quarterback.
Laird was named head football coach at Northwestern State University on November 20, 2017.[3] [4] [5] Laird resigned as the Demons' head coach on October 26, 2023; that same day, the university announced that the remainder of the football season would be cancelled to allow players and coaches time to grieve over the death of junior safety Ronnie Caldwell.[6]
On November 5, 2023, Caldwell's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Quad Apartment Complex, where Caldwell lived and where the shooting occurred, and Laird.[7] According to the lawsuit, Caldwell was placed in an apartment with McIntosh, who was not attending college and had a history of legal trouble, after mold was found in Caldwell's original apartment.[8] The lawsuit also alleges that McIntosh pulled a gun on Caldwell three days before the shooting occurred. Caldwell then notified his father, Ronald, of the incident who then alerted Laird. Laird called Ronald, assuring him that he would immediately place Ronnie in a safe location.[9]