JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — Friday night, the crowd cheered extra loud when John Curtis Christian’s football team beat Brother Martin’s.
It was celebrated as Curtis head coach J.T. Curtis’ 621st career win, which ties the record for winningest high school football coaching career in U.S. history. The honor is currently held by John McKissick, the late coach of Summerville High in South Carolina.
“We’re looking forward to celebrating him breaking this record,” said Frank Massicot III, President of the school’s Patriot Nation Men’s Club. “He’s more than just a football coach, he’s had an impact on young people’s lives for 50 years.”
But there is controversy over his record. In 2016, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association stripped more than a dozen of John Curtis’ past wins because it found a player ineligible. The school sued the LHSAA but, after years of legal battles, failed to get the wins restored.
In a statement Tuesday, the LHSAA told WWL-TV:
The LHSAA recognizes the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) win/loss record for Coach JT Curtis as 591-109. This record reflects 30 victories forfeited due to LHSAA sanctions between 2013 and 2015. A court case between John Curtis and the LHSAA was finalized in May of 2022 in which the penalty ruling of the LHSAA was held in place without any limitations or conditions.
591 is 30 fewer wins than Curtis would need to tie the record.
The discrepancy does not matter to Curtis’ supporters, however. The school has posted several articles touting the 621-win figure and the Men’s Club still plans to celebrate when Curtis clinches his next win. “He has coached and won those games on the field,” said Massicot.
J.T. Curtis declined a formal interview but told WWL-TV he believed LHSAA’s win count to be “disingenuous.” He did not say whether he plans to consider his next win a broken record.
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