Joe Aillet

Joe Aillet
Sport(s)	Football, basketball, golf
Biographical details
Born	(1904-09-13)September 13, 1904 New York City, USA
Died	December 28, 1971(1971-12-28) (aged 67) Ruston, Lincoln Parish Louisiana
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football 1926 1927–1935 1936–1939 1940–1966 Basketball 1926–1927 1944–1945 Golf	Southwestern LA (Student Asst.) Haynesville HS Northwestern State (OB) Louisiana Tech Southwestern LA (Student Asst.) Louisiana Tech Louisiana Tech
Head coaching record
Overall	151–86–8 (football) 5–12 (basketball)
Statistics College Football Data Warehouse
Accomplishments and honors
Awards 4-time Gulf States Conference Coach of the Year 4-time President of the Gulf States Conference Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame College Football Hall of Fame [1]
College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1989 (profile)

Joe Aillet (September 13, 1904–December 28, 1971)^[2] was the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University from 1940 to 1966. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. During his 26-year tenure, he amassed a career record of 151 wins, 86 losses, and 8 ties. Additionally, under Aillet, the Bulldogs won nine conference championships. Joe Aillet Stadium, the home of the Louisiana Tech football team, was dedicated in Aillet's honor in 1972.

Early Life & Education

Childhood

Joe Aillet was born Joseph Fuourka and was brought from New York City in 1905 on an Orphan Train to Opelousas in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Upon arriving at Youngsville on the orphan train, Father Johanni Roguet, the priest at St. Ann's Catholic Church, claimed the child. Since the priest could not legally adopt a child, he handed over the responsibilities of raising the baby to a widow named Eliza Aillet. From these two individuals, Joseph Fuourka was renamed Joseph Roguet Aillet.^[3]

Education

Aillet attended Holy Cross College in New Orleans, LA where he served as vice-president of the Class of 1921 and held leadership positions in nearly every school society. After graduating from Holy Cross College in 1921, Aillet attended Roman Catholic-affiliated St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. While at St. Edward's, Aillet participated in all sports under coach Jack Meagher. He joined the coaching staff at Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana-Lafayette) while he completed his work on a bachelor's degree. Upon earning his bachelor's in 1927, Aillet worked at Haynesville High School for nine years while he worked on his master's degree from LSU.

College coaching

In addition to his success as a college football coach, Aillet obtained great success as the coach for the Louisiana Tech golf team. From 1952 to 1968, Louisiana Tech's golf team won the Gulf States Conference Title 10 times in 15 seasons under Coach Aillet.^[4]

Aillet is a member of the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, and College Football Hall of Fame.

His football years at Louisiana Tech corresponded with Coach Berry Hinton's successful baseball teams.

Head coaching record

References