High school football: Louisiana legend John T. Curtis headlines top 50 winningest active coaches

During the 2023 high school football season, John T. Curtis of John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.) became the sport’s all-time winningest coach. Starting in 2024, he will try to do it all over again.

According to the MaxPreps National High School Football Record Book, Curtis has eclipsed the all-time mark of 620 wins set by John McKissick of Summerville (S.C.) from 1952 to 2014. Curtis defeated Brother Martin (New Orleans) 26-7 in October of 2023 for win No. 621 and the all-time lead.

However, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) determined that because of forfeit losses due to an ineligible player in 2013, Curtis is still about 27 wins short of tying McKissick for the record. The National Federation of State High School Associations also lists Curtis with 593 wins instead of 623.

All-time wins leader John T. Curtis coached his first game at John Curtis Christian, a school named after his father, in 1969.

The difference comes in how records are maintained. Some high school football historians – notably Steven Floyd and Joe Lee Smith of Texas – do not include forfeit wins or losses as part of calculating a coach’s all-time total. The main reason is that it becomes a bookkeeping nightmare because forfeit wins and losses are often decided upon months or even years after the outcomes in question and are sometimes overturned. This makes research difficult when trying to determine a coach’s win-loss record. Thus only on-the-field wins and losses are maintained by some historians.

MaxPreps has taken this same approach and stands by Curtis’ 623 all-time wins entering the 2024 season, not 593 as determined by the LHSAA and the NFHS.

Curtis heads the list of top 50 active coaching wins leaders, leading No. 2 Robert Hyland of St. Mary’s Springs (Fond du Lac, Wis.) by 109 victories.

Look for at least one and maybe two coaches to join Curtis and Hyland in the 500-win club this fall. Jim Roth of Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.) needs just one win to reach the 500-win milestone. Meanwhile Gary Rankin, longtime Alcoa (Tenn.) coach who is now at Boyd-Buchanan (Chattanooga, Tenn.), needs 14 wins to reach 500.

Five coaches went over 400 wins last year, including Herb Brogan of Lumen Christi Catholic (Jackson, Mich.) with 408, Jeff Bellar of Norfolk Catholic (Norfolk, Neb.) with 406, Lewis Cook of Notre Dame (Crowley, La.), Bill Young of Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.) with 402 and Russ Radtke of Knox (Ind.) with 401. Dwight Lundeen of Becker (Minn.) could be the next to top the 400-mark as he starts the year with 399.

The top 50 active coaching wins leader list is provided to MaxPreps by Floyd, who has compiled coaching records from his home in Corpus Christi for well over a decade.

Top 50 active coaching wins leaders

1. John T. Curtis — 623
Record: 623-80-6 (.883)
2023 record: 8-3
Years: 1969-2023, 55 years
Schools: John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)

2. Robert Hyland — 514
Record: 514-116-2 (.815)
2023 record: 11-1
Years: 1971-2023, 53 years
Schools: St. Mary’s Springs (Fond du Lac, Wis.)

3. Jim Roth — 499
Record: 499-68-2 (.879)
2023 record: 15-1
Years: 1984-2023, 40 years
Schools: Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.)

4. Gary Rankin — 486
Record: 486-83-0 (.854)
2023 record: 13-1
Years: 1982-2023, 42 years
Schools: Smith County (Carthage, Tenn.) (82-89), Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) (90-05), Alcoa (Tenn.) (06-21), Boyd-Buchanan (Chattanooga, Tenn.) (22-)

5. Philip Haywood — 479
Record: 479-158-0 (.752)
2023 record: 8-4
Years: 1975-2023, 49 years
Schools: Prestonsburg (Ky.) (75-83), Belfry (Ky.) (84-)

6. Tommy Knotts — 476
Record: 476-71-0 (.870)
2023 record: 10-5
Years: 1983-2003; 2005-2023, 40 years
Schools: Harding University (Charlotte, N.C.) (83-88), West Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.) (89-99), Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) (00-03; 05-09), Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) (10-)

7. Jim Hightower — 474
Record: 474-134-1 (.779)
2023 record: 14-0
Years: 1975-2023, 49 years
Schools: Catholic of Pointe Coupee (New Roads, La.) (75-86), St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.) (87-)

8. Jerry Sinz — 471
Record: 471-91-0 (.838)
2023 record: 13-1
Years: 1975-2023, 49 years
Schools: Edgar (Wis.)

9. Larry “Bud” Wright — 457
Record: 457-213-2 (.682)
2023 record: 10-4
Years: 1965-2023, 59 years
Schools: Mount Ayr (Iowa) (65), Sheridan (Ind.) (66-)

10. Jerry Pezzetti — 447
Record: 447-187-1 (.704)
2023 record: 7-5
Years: 1961-2023, 63 years
Schools: Murray (Iowa) (61), Melcher-Dallas (Iowa) (62-68), Ankeny (Iowa) (69-12), Ankeny Centennial (Iowa) (13-)

11. Randy Allen — 446
Record: 446-95-6 (.821)
2023 record: 11-2
Years: 1981-2023, 43 years
Schools: Ballinger (Texas) (81-85), Brownwood (Texas) (86-90), Cooper (Abilene, Texas) (91-98), Highland Park (Dallas, Texas) (99-)

12. Lea “Bill” Hurst — 433
Record: 433-146-0 (.748)
2023 record: 10-3
Years: 1975-1994, 1997-2023, 47 years
Schools: Centreville Academy (Centreville, Miss.)

13. Dudley Hilton — 432
Record: 432-135-0 (.762)
2023 record: 13-2
Years: 1974-2010, 2014-2023, 46 years
Schools: Breathitt County (Jackson, Ky.) (75-82), Bell County (Pineville, Ky.) (83-96; 01-10; 17-), Bourbon County (Paris, Ky.) (97-00), Taylor County (Campbellsville, Ky.) (14-16)

14. Alan Chadwick — 431
Record: 431-80-0 (.843)
2023 record: 12-2
Years: 1985-2023, 39 years
Schools: Marist (Atlanta)

15. Reno Saccoccia — 425
Record: 425-85-0 (.833)
2023 record: 13-2
Years: 1983-2023, 41 years
Schools: Steubenville (Ohio)

16. Herb Brogan — 408
Record: 408-92-0 (.816)
2023 record: 13-1
Years: 1980-2023, 44 years
Schools: Lumen Christi Catholic (Jackson, Mich.)

17. Jeff Bellar — 406
Record: 406-77-0 (.840)
2023 record: 13-0
Years: 1982-2023, 42 years
Schools: Beaver Valley (Neb.) (82-84), Norfolk Catholic (Norfolk, Neb.) (85-95; 97-), Norfolk (Neb.) (96)

18. Lewis Cook — 402
Record: 402-96-0 (.807)
2023 record: 9-4
Years: 1977-1980, 1985-1991, 1996-2023, 39 years
Schools: Rayne (La.) (77-80), Crowley (La.) (85-91; 96), Notre Dame (Crowley, La.) (97-)

19. Bill Young — 402
Record: 402-124-0 (.764)
2023 record: 10-3
Years: 1978-2023, 46 years
Schools: Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.)

20. Russ Radtke — 401
Record: 401-157-0 (.719)
2023 record: 13-1
Years: 1977-2023, 47 years
Schools: North Judson-San Pierre (Ind.) (77-86), Connersville (Ind.) (87-92), Griffith (Ind.) (93-11), New Prairie (Ind.) (12-19), Portage (Portage, Ind.) (20), Knox (Ind.) (20-)

21. Dwight Lundeen — 399
Record: 399-167-3 (.704)
2023 record: 9-1
Years: 1970-2023, 54 years
Schools: Becker (Minn.)

22. Robbie Pruitt — 397
Record: 397-96-1 (.805)
2023 record: 11-1
Years: 1984-2023, 40 years
Schools: University Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.) (84-92), Union County (Lake Butler, Fla.) (93-99), Fitzgerald (Ga.) (00-02; 04-11), Warner Robins (Ga.) (03), Coffee (Douglas, Ga.) (12-21), Williston (Fla.) (2022-)

23. Ken LaChapelle — 393
Record: 393-133-6 (.744)
2023 record: 5-6
Years: 1976-2023, 48 years
Schools: Northbridge (Whitinsville, Mass.)

24. Lou Marinelli — 392
Record: 392-113-7 (.772)
2023 record: 12-1
Years: 1976, 1979-2019, 2023, 45 years
Schools: Mamaroneck (N.Y.) (76), Yorktown (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) (79-80), New Canaan (Conn.) (81-)

25. Mike Grant — 387
Record: 387-80-0 (.829)
2023 record: 11-1
Years: 1981-1986, 1989-2023, 41 years
Schools: Forest Lake (Minn.) (81-86; 89-91), Eden Prairie (Minn.) (92-)

26. Mike Snyder — 386
Record: 386-142-0 (.731)
2023 record: 3-7
Years: 1980-2023, 44 years
Schools: Seminole (Okla.)

27. Monte Kohler — 381
Record: 381-64-2 (.854)
2023 record: 11-1
Years: 1985-2023, 39 years
Schools: O’Dea (Seattle)

28. Ed Domsitz — 379
Record: 379-173-1 (.686)
2023 record: 12-4
Years: 1976-2023, 48 years
Schools: Trotwood-Madison (Trotwood, Ohio) (76-80), Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio) (81-87; 99-), Northmont (Clayton, Ohio) (88-98)

29. Burton Cates — 367
Record: 367-131-0 (.737)
2023 record: 12-2
Years: 1984-2023, 40 years
Schools: Eastern Randolph (Ramseur, N.C.) (84-08; 18-), Lee County (Sanford, N.C.) (09-17)

30. Mike Gillin — 366
Record: 366-146-0 (.715)
2023 record: 7-6
Years: 1979-2023, 45 years
Schools: Tri-West Hendricks (Lizton, Ind.) (79-89), Decatur Central (Indianapolis) (90-00), Indian Creek (Trafalgar, Ind.) (01-16), Mooresville (Ind.) (17-)

31. Larry French — 365
Record: 365-175-0 (.676)
2023 record: 9-3
Years: 1978-2023, 46 years
Schools: Mercer County (Harrodsburg, Ky.) (78-88), Meade County (Brandenburg, Ky.) (89-03), Lincoln County (Stanford, Ky.) (04-07), Boyle County (Danville, Ky.) (08-13), Southwestern (Somerset, Ky.) (14-18), Middlesboro (Ky.) (19-)

32. John DiBiaso — 361
Record: 361-84-2 (.810)
2023 record: 8-3
Years: 1982-2023, 42 years
Schools: St. Patrick (Watertown, Mass.) (82-87), Weston (Mass.) (88-91), Everett (Mass.) (92-17), Catholic Memorial (West Roxbury, Mass.) (18-)

33. Bob Wolfrum — 362
Record: 362-89-1 (.802)
2023 record: 12-2
Years: 1987-2023, 37 years
Schools: Wyomissing (Pa.)

34. Kevin Clancy — 361
Record: 361-153-2 (.702)
2023 record: 13-2
Years: 1981-2023, 43 years
Schools: Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.) (81-90), Strath Haven (Wallingford, Pa.) (91-)

35. Denney Faith — 360
Record: 360-110-4 (.764)
2023 record: 16-0
Years: 1987-2023, 37 years
Schools: Albany (Texas)

36. Terry Curtis — 355
Record: 355-98-0 (.784)
2023 record: 7-5
Years: 1989-2023, 35 years
Schools: Shaw (Mobile, Ala.) (89-92), Murphy (Mobile, Ala.) (93-98), UMS-Wright Prep (Mobile, Ala.) (99-)

37. Kevin Wallace — 354
Record: 354-120-0 (.747)
2023 record: 8-4
Years: 1984-1993, 1996-2023, 38 years
Schools: Warren East (Bowling Green, Ky.) (84-93), Bowling Green (Ky.) (96-17), St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.) (18-)

38. Randy Baughman — 352
Record: 352-130-1 (.730)
2023 record: 8-4
Years: 1981-2023, 43 years
Schools: Indian Valley (Gnadenhutten, Ohio) (81), Licking Valley (Newark, Ohio) (82-)

39. Paul Benefield — 351
Record: 351-56-0 (.862)
2023 record: 14-1
Years: 1992-2023, 32 years
Schools: Sylvania (Ala.) (92-96), Fyffe (Ala.) (97-)

40. Ken Potter — 351
Record: 351-87-0 (.801)
2023 record: 6-5
Years: 1987-2023, 37 years
Schools: Jesuit (Portland, Ore.)

41. Danny Horn — 351
Record: 351-97-0 (.783)
2023 record: 10-1
Years: 1989-2023, 35 years
Schools: Clay County (Ashland, Ala.) (89-08), Benjamin Russell (Alexander City, Ala.) (09-17), Central of Clay County (Lineville, Ala.) (18-)

42. Dino Garr — 351
Record: 351-114-4 (.753)
2023 record: 12-2
Years: 1976-2023, 48 years
Schools: Rye (N.Y.) (76-78; 85-), Westlake (Thornwood, N.Y.) (79-84)

43. Brian O’Reilly — 346
Record: 346-126-0 (.733)
2023 record: 10-1
Years: 1978-2023, 46 years
Schools: Pinkerton (Derry, N.H.)

44. Reginald Samples — 340
Record: 340-88-2 (.793)
2023 record: 14-1
Years: 1990-2023, 34 years
Schools: Lincoln (Dallas) (90-04), Skyline (Dallas) (05-14), Duncanville (Texas) (15-)

45. John Hart — 336
Record: 336-99-0 (.772)
2023 record: 9-1
Years: 1985-2023, 39 years
Schools: Edwards County (Albion, Ill.) (85-89), Mt. Carmel (Ill.) (90-00), Evansville Reitz (Ind.) (01-07), Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.) (08-11), Huntley (Ill.) (12-15), Brownsburg (Ind.) (16-)

46. Richard Taylor — 333
Record: 333-137-6 (.706)
2023 record: 11-2
Years: 1977-1985, 1992-2023, 41 years
Schools: Western Reserve (Berlin Center, Ohio) (77-85), Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.) (92-)

47. Dave Logan — 329
Record: 329-69-0 (.827)
2023 record: 13-1
Years: 1993-2023, 31 years
Schools: Arvada West (Arvada, Colo.) (93-99), Chatfield (Littleton, Colo.) (00-02), Mullen (Denver) (03-11), Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.) (12-)

48. Ron Mimick — 328
Record: 328-135-0 (.708)
2023 record: 5-5
Years: 1980-2023, 44 years
Schools: Stuart (S.D.) (80-82), Parkston (S.D.) (83-84), St. Cecilia (Hastings, Neb.) (85-88), Cedar Catholic (Hartington, Neb.) (89), Aquinas (David City, Neb.) (90-)

49. John Shillito — 327
Record: 327-106-0 (.752)
2023 record: 9-4
Years: 1982-1984, 1986-2003, 2005-2023, 40 years
Schools: Comstock Park (Mich.) (82-84), Orchard View (Muskegon, Mich.) (86-99), East Kentwood (Kentwood, Mich.) (00-03), Zeeland West (Zeeland, Mich.) (05-)

50. Mike Wheeler — 323
Record: 323-82 (.798)
2023 record: 13-1
Years: 1992-2023, 32 years
School: Dallas Christian (Mesquite, Texas)