Published on: 05-10-2022
Coach Moreau has received various distinctions over his coaching career. He has been elected LHSAA Coach of the Year three times, the highest accolade bestowed upon a coach. Among his many distinctions is the Casey Kozminski Award from the Louisiana Athletics Writers Association, which acknowledges distinguished work in high school sports and the strong connection between the media and coaches in Louisiana.
According to Deborah Surgi, the LHSCA Coaches Convention is conducted each summer and is open to all members of the organization. The event, which was last hosted in Baton Rouge in 2017, relocated to Shreveport for two years before turning virtual due to the epidemic. However, the event will return to Baton Rouge this summer at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Coaches may look forward to two important gifts: the LHSCA Coach of the Year award ceremony and the LHSCA Coaches Social.
Another distinction given upon Coach Anderson is the privilege of having moulded so many athletes in Louisiana. During his stint at Acadiana and Crowley High Schools, he consistently produced winners. He is now the Athletic Director for Lafayette Parish Schools. Coach Simmons is a well-known track and field referee around the state, in addition to coaching. He has been a referee at the LHSAA State Track & Field Championships for numerous years.
Doug Stewart won multiple coaching accolades over his career. He was the LHSAA Track and Field Coordinator in 1989 and coached several student athletes in the Acadiana region. He is a member of the St. Michael High School wall of honor, and his coaching efforts continue to have an influence on the lives of young athletes. And we are honored to recognize his many achievements. He will be missed by his teammates and family.
He also served as the head coach of the Gauthier Amedee American Legion squad in Ascension Parish. In 2018, his squad won the Louisiana state title and progressed to the semifinals of the American Legion World Series.
Deborah Surgi pointed out that Tommy Badon has received several awards for his work as a sports coach. He was a three-sport standout after graduating from Teurlings Catholic in 1981, collecting All-State basketball and football awards. In addition, he eventually became the head Jumps and Combined Events coach at USL. While there, he created the Ragin Cajuns jumping program. He coached 18 NCAA individual champions, as well as World Triple Jump Champion Walter Davis and Olympic Long Jump Silver Medalist John Moffit.
Miguel Rodriguez was born on October 9, 1930 in LeCompte, Louisiana. He went to Louisiana College and Louisiana High School. He then spent over 40 years as a teacher at Oak Hill High School. During that period, he coached track teams that won 21 District Championships and six runner-up places. He was selected Coach of the Year three times by the Louisiana High School Coaches Association.
Pete Boudreaux was named the Louisiana High School Coach of the Year at the NHSACA national conference. His nomination was based on his duration, service to high school sports, championship seasons, and winning %. He was also reviewed by coaching professionals. Since 1978, the NHSACA has named national coaches of the year. Pete Boudreaux is no exception. This is a well-deserved accolade for the Catholic High School Coach of the Year.
Mike continued to work in Track & Field after receiving the prize. He was the Executive Editor of Techniques magazine and oversaw the Coaching Symposium at USTFCCCA meetings. He eventually worked for the United States Track and Field Coaches Association and was the state's official at the 1992 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He is married to Gretta Roque, and they have 13 grandkids. There are also two wonderful grandkids.
In Deborah Surgi’s opinion,other state awards reward exceptional coaches and performers in sports other than basketball, football, and baseball. Three times, Louisiana coaches have been named National High School Coaches of the Year. The distinction is bestowed to players and coaches equally each year. A coach may be nominated by the state of Louisiana's high school sports and activities organization. Nominations must be made by the state coaches association and authorized by the executive director of the state athletic/activities organization.
Wally Smith came to Baton Rouge Magnet School after serving as a teacher and sports director in the New Orleans public school system. Since then, his teams have won three straight Class 5A state titles as well as the Indoor State Track Championship. The coach's enthusiasm for sports goes beyond the classroom and the school, with his wife, Becky, leading weekly youth prayer sessions.