After an 0-10 start in his first year as a high school football coach, John Curtis Christian School’s (Louisiana) J.T. Curtis is closing-in on becoming America’s winningest high school football coach.
Curtis enters his 51st season as JC’s head coach with a lifetime record of 582-64-6. Last year, Curtis led the Patriots to their 27th overall state championship and a No. 25 national ranking in the High School Football America 100.
Related: America’s Winningest High School Football Teams
At his current pace of nearly twelve wins per season, Curtis would catch John McKissick, who tops the list with 621 wins, during the 2021 or 2022 season.
And, here’s a great statistic…17 of the 31 members of the 400+ Win Club will be roaming the sidelines in 2019 as head coaches.
For the purposes of our list, we are using multiple record books from around the county.
All-Time Coaching Wins
No. 1 John McKissick (South Carolina) 621-156-13
No. 2 *J.T. Curtis – John Curtis HS (Louisiana) 582-64-6
No. 3 *Mike Smith – Hampton HS (Virginia) 488-92-2
No. 4 Larry Campbell (Georgia) 477-85-3
No. 5 (tie) *Robert Hyland – St. Mary’s Springs (Wisconsin) 466-105-2
No. 5 (tie) Charles “Corky” Rogers (Florida) 466-84-1
No. 7 *Phil Danaher – Calallen (Texas) 458-111-4
No. 8 George Curry (Pennsylvania) 455-99-5
No. 9 Jack Henzes (Pennsylvania) 444-168-8
No. 10 John Herrington (Michigan) 443-112-1
No. 11 *Philip Haywood – Belfry HS (Kentucky) 438-134
No. 12 (tie) *Bill Castle – Lakeland HS (Florida) 432-89
No. 12 (tie) Dick Tighe (Iowa) 432-167-8
No. 14 Al Francassa (Michigan) 431-117-7
No. 15 *Jim Roth – Southern Columbia HS (Pennsylvania) 427-63-2
No. 16 G.A. Moore (Texas) 426-92-9
No. 17 *Gary Rankin – Alcoa HS (Tennessee) 425-75
No. 18 *C.J. Hamilton – Silver Lake (Kansas) 423-91
No. 19 *Jerry Pezzetti – Ankeny Centennial HS (Iowa) 421-158-1
No. 20 *Jerry Sinz – Edgar HS (Wisconsin) 419-83
No. 21 (tie) *Larry “Bud” Wright – Sheridan HS (Indiana) 418-195-2
No. 21 (tie) *Jim Hightower – St. Thomas More (Louisiana) 418-126-1
No. 23 *Curt Bladt – Harlan HS (Iowa) 418-63
No. 24 Jack Holley (North Carolina) 412-96-9
No. 25 (tie) *David Gentry – Murphy HS (North Carolina) 406-193
No. 25 (tie) Jim Render (Pennsylvania) 406-141-6
No. 27 (tie) Pete Adkins (Missouri) 405-60-4
No. 27 (tie) Bob Milloy (Maryland) 405-124-1
No. 29 Robert Paroli (North Carolina) 403-206-13
No. 30 *Tom Knotts – Dutch Fork HS (South Carolina) 401-64
No. 31 *Bill Hurst – Centreville Academy (Mississippi) 400-119
No. 32 Bob Ladouceur (California) 399-25-3
No. 33*Dave Gutshall – Dorman HS (South Carolina) 396-137
No. 34 (tie) Gordon Wood (Texas) 394-93-15
No. 34 (tie) Sid Otton (Washington) 394-131
No. 36 *Mike Mahlen – Verndale HS (Minnesota) 393-122-3
No. 37 (tie) *Randy Allen – Highland Park HS (Texas) 392-87-6
No. 37 (tie) *Jim France – Akron Manchester HS (Ohio) 392-118-4
No. 39 *Ron Stolski – Brainerd HS (Minnesota) 386-175-5
No. 40 (tie) *Ricky Black – Jackson Prep (Mississippi) 383-75
No. 40 (tie) – Willie Varner (South Carolina) 383-132-10
No. 42 Ron Holtman (Missouri) 381-103-4
No. 43 *Geno Saccocia – Steubenville HS (Ohio) 381-70
No. 44 (tie) *Dudley Hilton – Bell County HS (Kentucky) 379-122
No. 44 (tie) *Ken Leonard – Sacred Heart-Griffin HS (Illinois) 379-75
No. 476 Frank Lenti (Illinois) 374-77
*Will be a head coach in 2019
