John Curtis football coach J. T. Curtis will have to wait a while before he can break the national record for most wins by a high school head coach.
On Friday night, the John Curtis football team will take on Edna Karr in their regular season finale. The game has been billed as the one in which Curtis could break the national all-time high school wins record. However, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association says that Curtis's win total is 30 fewer than believed because of sanctions handed down a decade ago.
That proclamation came on Wednesday, just two days before Curtis had the chance to break the record.
"I would have hoped the LHSAA would have said something before this week when it's the week when he's supposed to break the record," said WWL Allstate Sugar Bowl Prep Football Roundup host Brad Luminais, who questions why the LHSAA didn't make an issue of Curtis's won-loss record sooner. "Nothing was said last week when he tied the record."
Curtis, his players, and their fans thought this would be the week in which Curtis earns his 621st career win, breaking the national record. Because of forfeits handed down 10 years ago by the LHSAA, Curtis will have to coach another three years before he can achieve that mark. Luminais says it's a blow for both Curtis and his players.
"I think these players wanted to be the group that got Coach the record," Luminais said. "A couple of them had mentioned that. This is the year. We knew it was going to be the year. We're ready. We're going to be the group that gets him there."
But Luminais notes that ultimately, the LHSAA has the final say in how many wins count towards Curtis's attempt to make history.
"The LHSAA is the only governing body that has the authority to verify a win-loss record," Luminais said.
We spoke with J. T. Curtis, who referred us to a written statement he released. In that statement, Curtis said he'd rather not comment until the season is over. He also said his focus is on his team's game Friday night against Edna Karr.
