Jim Hightower

Sport: CoachFootball

Induction Year: 2016

Ranks No. 2 on Louisiana’s all-time wins list of high school football coaches with a record of 407-124-1 in 43 seasons that includes stints at two high schools. Became only the second Louisiana coach to crack the 400 wins barrier and did so during the 2017 season as his St. Thomas More squad advanced to the Division II select semifinals and finished with an 11-2 record. Hightower has won two LHSAA titles, one with Catholic-Pointe Coupee in 1978 and a second with STM in 2016. In 1978, Hightower’s Catholic-PC squad beat St. Edmund of Eunice 45-16 to win the Class 1A title. In 2016, STM defeated Parkview Baptist 54-29 to win a Division II select title. He is believed to be the only coach to a district title in all five LHSAA classifications – 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A. Since moving to STM in 1986, Hightower has a record of 280-97. His teams have made 30 straight playoff appearances. The Cougars have reached the regional round 22 times, quarterfinals 16 times and semifinals nine times. Born 12-29-1948 in Alhambra, Calif.