Student Well-Being

High School Football Coach Wins Milestone 500th Game

By Bryan Toporek — October 28, 2011 1 min read
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This blog promises to go beyond the box scores in youth sports, but this milestone was too major to pass up.

The fraternity of football coaches who’ve won 500 games at any level—high school, college, or pros—just doubled this past Thursday, as J.T. Curtis Jr., head coach at John Curtis (La.) Christian School, scored his 500th win, a 49-6 victory over Clark (New Orleans) High School.

Amidst an audience of roughly 200 of his former players, Curtis’ team jumped out to a 42-0 halftime lead and never looked back, knowing what was at stake for their coach.

Curtis joins the 85-year-old John McKissick of Summerville (S.C.) High School as the only coaches to ever win 500 career football games, at any level of play. McKissick, who started coaching in 1952, has racked up 592 career victories (and counting), as he’s still coaching the Summerville football squad.

The 64-year-old Curtis began coaching at John Curtis Christian School back in 1969, when he took over for his father. After posting a dismal 0-10 record his first year as head coach, he’s gone 41 straight years without having another losing record.

In his 43-year coaching career, Curtis has guided his team to 23 state championships, 30 appearances in the state finals, and 11 undefeated seasons.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the coaches and the players and the staff and all of the guys through the years,” Curtis said after Thursday’s game, according to

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A version of this news article first appeared in the Schooled in Sports blog.