Joseph Roguet Aillet (born Joseph Fuourka,[1] September 13, 1904 – December 28, 1971) was an American football and basketball coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University from 1940 to 1966, compiling a record of 151–86–8. Additionally, under Aillet, the Bulldogs won nine conference championships. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. Joe Aillet Stadium, the home of the Louisiana Tech football team, was dedicated in Aillet's honor in 1972.

Joe Aillet
Biographical details
Born(1904-09-13)September 13, 1904
New York, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 28, 1971(1971-12-28) (aged 67)
Ruston, Louisiana, U.S.
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1926Southwestern LA (SA)
1927–1935Haynesville HS (LA)
1936–1939Louisiana Normal (backfeld)
1940–1966Louisiana Tech
Basketball
1926–1927Southwestern LA (SA)
1944–1945Louisiana Tech
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1940–1970Louisiana Tech
Head coaching record
Overall151–86–8 (college football)
5–12 (college basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
3 Louisiana Intercollegiate (1941, 1945, 1947)
9 Gulf States (1949, 1952–1953, 1955, 1957–1960, 1964)
Awards
Football
Gulf States Coach of the Year

General
Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame (1984)
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
Holy Cross School Sports Hall of Fame (2018)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1989 (profile)

Early life and education

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Childhood

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Aillet was brought in 1905 from the New York Foundling in New York City to Opelousas in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, on an Orphan Train. 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.[2]

Education

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Aillet attended Holy Cross High School in New Orleans, where he played football,[3] served as vice-president of the Class of 1921 and held leadership positions in nearly every school society. After graduating in 1921,[citation needed] he attended St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. While at St. Edward's, Aillet played quarterback[3] and participated in all other sports under coach Jack Meagher. He joined the coaching staff at Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) while he completed his work on a bachelor's degree in 1927. He then worked at Haynesville High School for nine years while he completed his master's degree from Louisiana State University.

Coaching

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1966 Louisiana Tech University football coaches: from left, head coach Joe Aillet and assistants George Doherty, Jim Mize, A. Huey Williamson, E. J. Lewis, and Lee Hedges.

On the high school level, Aillet's teams at Haynesville won three championships during his 1927 to 1935 tenure. He was the first president of the Louisiana High School Coaches Association.[4]

Aillet was backfield coach at Louisiana Normal for four years.[3]

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 Aillet.

Administration

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Aillet was the first president of the Gulf States Conference.[4] From 1940 to 1970, he was Louisiana Tech's athletic director.[5]

Death

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On December 28, 1971, Aillet died of cancer at age 67.[6]

Recognition

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Aillet is a member of the Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame,[citation needed] and the NAIA Hall of Fame.[7]

Head coaching record

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Football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (Louisiana Intercollegiate Conference) (1940–1947)
1940 Louisiana Tech 6–4 3–2 3rd
1941 Louisiana Tech 5–4–1 5–0 1st
1942 Louisiana Tech 6–3 1–2 3rd
1943 No team—World War II
1944 Louisiana Tech 3–5–1 2–1–1
1945 Louisiana Tech 6–4 3–1 1st
1946 Louisiana Tech 7–3 3–1 2nd
1947 Louisiana Tech 5–4 5–0 1st
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (Gulf States Conference) (1948–1966)
1948 Louisiana Tech 7–2–1 4–1 2nd
1949 Louisiana Tech 7–2 5–0 1st
1950 Louisiana Tech 5–4–1 3–2 2nd
1951 Louisiana Tech 4–5 2–3 4th
1952 Louisiana Tech 6–1–2 3–0–2 T–1st
1953 Louisiana Tech 6–3 5–1 T–1st
1954 Louisiana Tech 6–3 4–2 T–2nd
1955 Louisiana Tech 9–1 6–0 1st
1956 Louisiana Tech 4–3–2 3–1–1 T–2nd
1957 Louisiana Tech 6–4 4–1 T–1st
1958 Louisiana Tech 7–3 4–1 T–1st
1959 Louisiana Tech 9–1 5–0 1st
1960 Louisiana Tech 8–2 4–1 T–1st
1961 Louisiana Tech 5–4 3–2 T–3rd
1962 Louisiana Tech 4–4 2–3 T–4th
1963 Louisiana Tech 6–3 3–2 T–2nd
1964 Louisiana Tech 9–1 5–0 1st
1965 Louisiana Tech 4–4 3–2 3rd
1966 Louisiana Tech 1–9 1–4 T–5th
Louisiana Tech: 151–86–8 91–33–4
Total: 151–86–8
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ "Jeff Driskel's second act: How the ex-Florida QB has gone about rejuvenating his career at Louisiana Tech". Sports Illustrated. ABG-SI LLC. December 15, 2015. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  2. ^ Joe Aillet Bio from Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
  3. ^ a b c "Athletes To Fete Joe Aillet Today". Monroe Morning World. Louisiana, Monroe. October 12, 1963. p. 11. Retrieved January 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b McIntyre, Bill (March 31, 1967). "Joe Aillet Resigns as La. Tech Football Coach After 26 Seasons; Stays On as Athletic Director". The Times. Louisiana, Shreveport. p. C 1. Retrieved January 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Joe Aillet". Hall of Fame. National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, Inc. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  6. ^ McIntyre, Bill (December 29, 1971). "The 'Coach' Has Retired". The Times. Louisiana, Shreveport. p. C 1. Retrieved January 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Aswell, Thomas (December 29, 1971). "Aillet Was 'Inspiration' To Athletes". The Times. Louisiana, Shreveport. p. C 1. Retrieved January 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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