By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
This biographical summary of the career of Lee Hedges was compiled by supporters for his Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame nomination. He was inducted in 2010.
About Lee Hedges
Native of Ruddells, Ark.
Fair Park High School graduate (1947).
All-State halfback at Fair Park.
Played football and baseball at LSU (1948-51).
Played professional baseball in Evangeline League.
Coaching and teaching accomplishments:
Only coach in state high school football history to guide three different high schools to a state championship game.
Fair Park High School (1955)
Assistant coach
Byrd High School (Head coach,1956-59)
Yellow Jackets had a 23-19-3 record in his four seasons.
Made the playoffs in his first season as coach, reaching the 1956 state championship game.
Coached future NFL player, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame member Pat Studstill.
Woodlawn High School (Head coach, 1960-65)
Knights had a 47-21-2 record in his six seasons.
State playoff appearances in 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965.
Named Outstanding Teacher in Caddo Parish in 1963 by the Caddo Parish Teachers Association
Coached Knights, led by Terry Bradshaw at quarterback, to the 1965 state championship game, losing to Sulphur, 12-9.
Named state Class 3A Coach of the Year in 1965
Coached future NFL player, Pro Football Hall of Fame member, LSHOF member Bradshaw, after earlier coaching star QBs Billy Laird and Trey Prather, both college signees.
Louisiana Tech University (1966)
Assistant football coach, under LSHOF member Joe Aillet.
Captain Shreve High School (Head coach, 1967-84)
Gators were 146-52-4 in his 18 seasons.
Elected president of Louisiana High School Coaches Association in 1973.
Won 1973 state championship, going 14-0.
His 1973-74 teams won 24 straight games.
Won eight district championships (1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1983).
Went to the playoffs in 14 of 18 seasons.
Had four undefeated regular seasons (three undefeated, untied seasons).
Coached NFL athletes Bo Harris (Pro Bowl selection), Roland Harper (Super Bowl champion), Carlos Pennywell, Robert Moore, Derrick Douglas.
As head tennis coach, he led the Gators to 15 state championships.
Overview
Career record of 216-92-9 ranks No. 1 among Shreveport-Bossier coaches.
Had only three losing seasons in 27 seasons.
Inducted into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.
Also served as assistant football coach at Southwood High School in 1998.
Continued to coach tennis and teach lessons for years following his retirement from the Caddo Parish school system.
Official Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame bio
Born in Arkansas, Hedges moved to Shreveport and was a standout athlete at Fair Park High School. He played football and baseball at LSU. Hedges lettered in football from 1949-51 and played one season of baseball at LSU in 1949. He led the Tigers in doubles, hits, home runs and batting average before giving up baseball to concentrate on football.
He played baseball in the Evangeline League before concentrating on his coaching career. He was an assistant coach at Fair Park High School in 1955 and the next season became the head coach at Byrd High School. He coached there from 1956-59 and immediately led the Yellow Jackets to the 1956 state championship game.
In 1960, he became the coach at Woodlawn and coached from 1960-65. He took the Knights to the state playoffs four times and his team reached the 1965 state championship game with Terry Bradshaw at quarterback.
He spent one year (1966) as an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech before going to Captain Shreve where he coached the Gators from 1967-84. He went to the playoffs in 15 of 18 seasons and won eight district championships. His 1973 team won a state championship and his 1973-74 teams won 24 consecutive games. He coached for 27 seasons and won 216 games with 92 losses and nine ties. His Gators also won 15 state tennis championships.
Contact Lee at leeh051@hotmail.com
