Louisiana high school football coach ties national record for most career wins

J.T. Curtis Jr., head coach at John Curtis Christian, has now won 621 games since taking over the school's football program more than 50 years ago

There's a new name at the very top of the list of winningest coaches in high school football history.

Longtime John Curtis Christian (Louisiana) head coach J.T. Curtis Jr. tied the record for most career wins (621) on Friday with a 26-7 victory against Brother Martin. 

Curtis tied a record set by former Summerville (South Carolina) head coach John McKissick, who passed away in 2019. Curtis and McKissick are the only high school football coaches to have won more than 600 games.

With Friday night's win over Brother Martin in a rematch of last year's Division I select title game, Curtis improved his all-time record to 621-78-6. 

J.T.'s father, John T. Curtis Sr., founded the school in 1962, and J.T. took over as the football team's head coach seven years later in 1969. 

In Curtis' 54 years leading the Patriots, he has led the team to 28 state championships and a national championship in 2012.

Curtis will have the chance to set the record with win No. 622 in next week's regular season finale, but it won't be easy. The No. 12 Patriots (6-2) are set to take on Edna Karr, the No. 1 team in the SBLive Louisiana football rankings.

(Feature photo by Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports)

-- Zach Shugan | zshugan@gmail.com | @SBLiveLA