Sport(s) | Football, basketball, golf |
---|---|
Biographical details | |
Born |
New York, New York |
September 13, 1904
Died | December 28, 1971 Ruston, Louisiana |
(aged 67)
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
Football | |
1926 | Southwestern LA (SA) |
1927–1935 | Haynesville HS (LA) |
1936–1939 | Northwestern State (OB) |
1940–1966 | Louisiana Tech |
Basketball | |
1926–1927 | Southwestern LA (SA) |
1944–1945 | Louisiana Tech |
Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
1940–1970 | Louisiana Tech |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 151–86–8 (college football) 5–12 (basketball) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Awards | |
4-time Gulf States Conference Coach of the Year |
|
College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1989 (profile) |
|
4-time Gulf States Conference Coach of the Year
4-time President of the Gulf States Conference
Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame (1984)
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
Joe Aillet (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.
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.
Aillet attended Holy Cross High School in New Orleans, where he served as vice-president of the Class of 1921 and held leadership positions in nearly every school society. After graduating in 1921, he attended Roman Catholic-affiliated St. Edward's University in the capital city of 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 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.