As I was researching the careers of Faize Mahfouz and Joe Nagata for last Sunday’s feature story, I began to wonder how the records of present-day coaches compare to their Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame finishes.

Friday night, St. Edmund head coach Thomas David is going for his first career win as his Blue Jays battle Sacred Heart and legendary coach Dutton Wall.

In 48 years of coaching, Wall has a career run of 268-147-2, which puts him in the Top Ten all-time wins for Louisiana high school coaches.

The top coach in the state is J.T. Curtis with a record of 480-52-6 over 41 years.

Other local coaches on that list include former Port Barre head coach and presently serving as the St. Landry Parish athletic director Donnie Perron.

At number 15 on the list, Perron finished with a 257-93 record over his 29-year career including a state Class 2-A title.

Notre Dame’s Lewis Cook has been coaching for 36 seasons and has rolled to a 254-69 record including the 2009 Class 3-A title.

Beau Chene head coach James Waguespack has been coaching for 32 seasons and has compiled a 226-140 record.

Milestones that could be crossed this season include Eunice’s District 4-3A foe Westlake head coach Max Caldarera, who should cross the 200-win plateau (198-151) in his 38th season as a head coach.

By the time Opelousas Catholic faces St. Edmund on Oct. 1, Viking head coach Doug Guillory (98-49) will pass the 100-win total in 23 years of coaching.

Eunice High head coach Paul Trosclair has a 168-71 career record and a seven-win season would push him to the 175-win level, including a 129-52 record at EHS.

Most coaches I have known say the wins are great but mentoring young athletes into becoming adults is the main reason they do what they do.

While there are no guarantees in parenting or coaching - some kids get arrested either as a student or after graduation; other athletes grow up to be fine upstanding members of the community.

I still remember and appreciate the influence of my high school coaches.

One of them would tell us, “Give your soul to God, because your body is mine,” as he pushed us to the limit doing sprints on the basketball court.

Good luck to all the area teams and coaches as the season kicks off tonight when Basile travels to Gueydan.

Eunice and St. Edmund both open the season Friday at home, so go out and support you favorite team.