By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
The Louisiana Sports Writers Association released its yearly list of the statewide Prep Football 200-Win Club of coaches including several local and area figures, led by legendary Haynesville coach Alton “Red” Franklin.
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame member coached the Golden Tornado to 366 wins, 76 losses and 8 ties in a 35-year career.
Bobby Ray McHalffey is next on the regional list of top winners in high school football. He spent the majority of his career at Haughton but started at Ferriday and finished as a head coach at Plain Dealing Academy. He finished with 237 wins, 127 losses and two ties in 35 years.
One win behind McHalffey is longtime Springhill head coach Travis Farrer. In 32 years Farrar amassed 236 wins, 110 losses and nine ties.
Two active coaches follow Farrar with North DeSoto head coach Dennis Dunn winning 245 games and David Franklin, son of Red Franklin, at Haynesville with 219 wins.
Dunn’s high school career has spanned 25 years with stops at Woodlawn, Evangel and Pineville before coming to Stonewall to take over with the Griffins. Dunn is Evangel’s all-time wins leader with 162 in 13 years.
Lee Hedges won 146 of his 216 wins at Captain Shreve but started at Byrd and was at Woodlawn before taking the Gator head coaching position. The Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer, who passed away just over a year ago, led all three local schools to state championship games, winning with the 1973 Gators. That is the last local public school to capture a state crown.
Hoss Newman won 205 games while coaching at Lake Providence, Winnfield, Benton and Caddo Parish’s Trinity Heights over 32 seasons. He had 78 of his wins in 11 seasons at Benton.
Calvary head coach Rodney Guin is poised to reach 200 wins this season, entering the fall campaign with 195 wins in 23 seasons. Guin has the most wins of any coach at Haughton with 126 in 16 years. His current 69 wins at Calvary is also at the top of the Cavaliers’ school list.
J.T. Curtis leads the statewide list with 593 wins in 55 seasons at John Curtis. Jim Hightower of St. Thomas More has coached 50 years and has 474 wins and Lewis Cook, the head coach at Notre Dame has 401 wins in 39 seasons. All three are in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame as their careers continue.
The list of northwest Louisiana coaches with 100 or more wins:
Red Franklin, Haynesville, 35 years, 366-76-8
Bobby Ray McHalffey, Ferriday, Haughton, Plain Dealing Academy, 35, 237-27-2
Travis Farrar, Springhill, 32, 236-110-9
Dennis Dunn, Woodlawn, Evangel, Pineville, North DeSoto, 25, 245-76-0
David Franklin, Haynesville, 22, 219-64-0
Lee Hedges, Byrd, Woodlawn, Captain Shreve, 28, 216-92-10
Hoss Newman, Lake Providence, Winnfield, Benton, Trinity Heights, 32, 205-119-7
Rodney Guin, Haughton, Calvary, 23, 195-74-0
David Feaster, Many, Minden, Leesville, Parkway, D’Arbonne Woods, Glenbrook, 21, 188-77-0
Mike Suggs, Byrd, 22, 167-89-0
Mike Greene, Loyola, Airline, Fair Park, BTW, Loyola, 28, 156-147-9
F.H. Predergrast, Fair Park, 22, 151-80-16
Mitch Downey, Benton, 15, 141-50-0
John Bachman Sr., Evangel, Calvary, Red River, 13, 122-41-0
Frank Bishop, Plain Dealing, 18, 117-61-7
Larry Moore, Plain Dealing, 23, 113-142-0
Jim Gatlin, Parkway, Northwood, 17, 110-78-0
Billy Don McHalffey, Bossier, 16, 108-76-0
Jerry Burton, Byrd, Northwood, 21, 107-113-0
Scott Abernathy, Southwood, North DeSoto, 17, 107-84-0
Will Marston, Haughton, 16, 101-74-1
Contact Lee at leeh051@hotmail.com