LaPlante is married to the former Leslie Henson and has four children; Courtney, Jackson, McCormick and Kaylee.
Auburn University Prior to being named Head Basketball Coach at Jacksonville State, LaPlante served as an assistant coach to Cliff Ellis at Auburn University from 1996–2000.
While at Auburn the program set new records for most wins in a season (29), most wins in a two-year period (54), and captured the school's first SEC Basketball Championship in over 40 years.
During his tenure at Maine the Black Bears set school records for most wins in a season (20), reaching the 20 win plateau for the first time in school history.
While at Yale the Bulldogs set modern era records for most wins (19) and made a run at the Ivy League Championship losing out to Princeton.