2012-13 Results and Media Coverage
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The 2013 Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame class was signing autographs, taking photographs and catching up with friends by about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Five inductees — Carencro Football Coach Mac Barousse, Albany Girls' Basketball Coach Karen Mack Hoyt, Anacoco Girls' Basketball Coach Vic Ortiz, Rummel Baseball Coach Larry Schneider and New Orleans wrestling official Clifford Strider — and St. Paul's Boys' Basketball Coach Eugene Bennett Jr.'s wife, Gay Bennett, addressed the annual banquet in brief videos discussing the six distinguished careers.
The two-hour ceremony served as just one crowning achievement — for many involved, just another in a long line — for extensive contributions to high school athletics in their home state.
"It's been great — the whole process," Schneider said. "For me, like I said, it's the culmination. I've done this for a long time — 43 years as a teacher and a coach for most of it — and for your peers and the committee to say, 'You did a good job,' and recognize you, that means everything. That's important."
New Orleans area natives Schneider and Strider are as much a symbol of the 2013 inductees' longevity as anyone.
Schneider, a former Jesuit and Tulane third baseman, took the reins of the Raiders' program in 1971 and compiled a 526-175 record during a career that spanned more than three decades. Rummel reached the state playoffs 12 times in 24 seasons, made the state tournament 10 times and collected six Catholic League titles and four state titles during his tenure. Wednesday's banquet marked just Schneider's latest addition to a résumé that includes two-time Class 5A Coach of the Year, one-time Southeast United State Baseball Coach of the Year and a 2009 induction into the Greater New Orleans Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame. "I've got 10 ex-players that came up here from New Orleans, and that means so much to me," Schneider said. "Those guys played in the late '70s, some of 'em, and I stay in touch with a bunch of 'em who live in Metairie, and for them to make the effort to come up here, that means a lot to me. It really does."
Strider has coached and officiated within the state's still-growing wrestling scene for more than 40 years, including serving as an LHSAA rules interpreter, head official for the state championships and assignment secretary and helping conduct annual rules clinics since 1986. The East Jefferson graduate previously earned a 2005 Distinguished Service Award from the LHSAA and a 2007 induction to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "The greatest thing is I have friends here tonight that go back 45 years," Strider said. "To watch the growth of the sport and think that I've been a part of that is a truly amazing experience."
Gay Bennett accepted the recognition for her late husband, the long-time coach at St. Paul's for whom the school's gymnasium is named. The Wolves' basketball team compiled a 451-359 record, won three district titles and made 13 playoff appearances in Bennett's 29 years at the helm. His golf teams also won 11 district, 13 regional and two state championships. "I cherished just being involved in Gene's career," Gay Bennett said. "Our whole family was involved. It was a family thing. We lived and breathed St. Paul's … The fact that he is receiving this wonderful award proves that he did make a difference. He made a difference to St. Paul's and to everyone he touched.
"I never dreamed that he would be honored with such a prestigious award. I was very proud of the person that I was married to. I felt so lucky that he chose me, and to have this happen is just so meaningful to both me and my family. It means so much because I knew what a wonderful teacher and coach he was. The school knew it. But now the entire state will know it. It's just a dream come true."
Hoyt helped build and sustain one of the state's most successful girls' basketball programs during her coaching career at Albany. The Hornets reached 15 straight postseasons and won three state titles amid her 361-150 tenure. "Being inducted into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame is a great honor," Hoyt said. "I feel very blessed to be in the company of some of these great names in high school sports. It's a very humbling experience for me."
Ortiz, a five-time Louisiana Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year, posted a 780-279 record during a long career as girls basketball coach at Anacoco and Hicks, while also leading baseball, golf, softball and track and field teams along the way. The Leesville and Northwestern State alumnus won a combined seven state championships.
Barousse led Opelousas to a 1987 track state championship and Carencro to a 1992 football state championship, the first by a Lafayette Parish school, and coached the Bears to seven district titles. "It's getting harder and harder because there's so many good people that have been nominated for it," said St. Amant Boys' Basketball Coach Gary Duhe, a member of the Hall of Fame Committee. "But I think with all six of them, No. 1 the longevity. They all served in their capacity a long time. It wasn't all about wins and losses, but it was about how they affected young men and young women in the high school setting and preparing them for life. That's what set a bunch of 'em apart. I guess I'm getting old enough now that I know a lot of 'em, and they were really the best of the best, so I think it's a very good class going in."
