Coaches remember Nagata’s influence

While they accomplished many things in their careers, they all said there was one man who helped shaped their lives.
The second annual Joe Nagata Memorial Jamboree will recognize the assistant coaches who worked alongside Coach Nagata at Eunice High and St. Edmund.
Nagata spent 1963 to 1973 at EHS with a 52-47-6 record with the Bobcats.
There were 16 coaches who coached at Eunice High during that period including: Curtis Joubert (1963-66), Leroy Taylor (1963-73), James Fontenot (1963-1968), David McDaniels (1963-64), Roland Smith (1963-64), David Greer (1964-69), Charlie Hayes (1967-69), Alfred Marks (1968-71), Harold Fusilier (1969-70), Freddie Alfred (1969-70), Elgy Sam (1970-72), Gerald Hardy (1970-72, 1973-74), Jimmy Lee Fusilier (1970-73), Leonard Matt (1971-74), Ronnie Miller (197-74) and Clarence Merricks (1972-74).
Before becoming the mayor of Eunice, a state representative or a promoter of the Cajun culture, Curtis Joubert was a basketball and football coach for the Bobcats with Nagata.
“Most places basketball coaches and football coaches don’t gee-haw together too well,” Joubert said. “But I pulled for him and he pulled for me as coaches.”
Joubert said while he never considered himself a football coach, he did what he could to help the team.
“Joe was a very intense fellow in regards to football,” Joubert said. “With a staff of five men, we all got along and helped each other.”
Joubert said he is thrilled that coach Nagata has the jamboree named in his honor.
“He supported both schools,” the former mayor said. “I am pleased that the town gets together for this event.
“People loved Joe and he was respected all over town,” Joubert said. “He was a real good American and great friend.”
After 10 seasons as the Bobcat head coach, Nagata then moved on to St. Eds, where he remained until 1985, compiling an 83-43-1 record.
Coaches who worked with the Blue Jays included: Charles Andrus (1974-77), Winston Smith (1974), Craig Fuselier (1974,1976, 1978-82), Terry McDaniel (1975), Larry Miller (1976), Alfred Marks (1977-85), Floyd Aucoin (1978/1981), Tom Andrus (1978-79), Mitch Pierrotti (1979-82), Randy Copper (1981), Harold Fusilier (1982-84), Connie Mac Fuselier (1983-84) and Keith Leleux (1985).
Nagata finished his career with a 135-90-7 record, including six district titles, four district runners-up, and led the Blue Jays to the Class 1-A runners-up in 1978 and 1979.
Charles Andrus had already coaches at several schools before arriving at St. Edmund, but he learned a lot from Nagata first as a player then a coach.
Andrus started at Scott High School (Acadiana) before moving on to New Iberia to coach with Faize Mahfouz.
Andrus was a volunteer coach at Eunice High (1973) when Nagata was hired a St. Edmund, he joined the Blue Jay staff for four seasons.
“He taught me in high school (Andrus was a 1953 EHS graduate) and was the defensive back coach,” Andrus said of his early experience with Nagata. “He knew football and he lived it - he taught anything could be done with hard work.
“He believed in discipline, fairness and hard work,” Andrus said. “He wanted the kids to know that was the key to success.”
Nagata was the district Coach of the Year five times, St. Landry Parish Coach of the Year three times, LHSAA Class 1-A Coach of the Year in 1979, the LHSCA Coach of the year in 1981 and was Eunice’s Citizen of the Year in 1978.
“He had our respect,” Andrus said of the reason the jamboree was started in Nagata’s memory. “It was an honor to coach with a legend.
“Faize and Joe both taught me a lot about technique and how to beat the guy across the line,” Andrus said. “Now all the big lineman do is push, shove and hold.”
For Pierrotti, coaching with Nagata helped shape his entire professional life.
“That short time I spent with him was invaluable,” Pierrotti said. “He taught me high-grade integrity and always take the right stand no matter how tough it might be.
“Coach Joe cared about the kids and they would drop by even after they graduated to see him.” Pierrotti said. “The kids knew he cared about them.”
This year’s jamboree is set for Thursday at Blue Jay Field, Eunice High will face DeRidder at 6 p.m., while St. Edmund will take on Port Barre at 7:30 p.m.
Both games will be broadcast on KEUN-FM.