The 600-win club, which currently has a membership of one, will likely double in size this year. When it will happen all depends on when football begins in Louisiana.
John T. Curtis, the only coach John Curtis Christian has ever had, begins his 52nd year as head coach of the Patriots with 592 career wins. With an average of 12 wins per year during his career, Curtis will likely join the late John McKissick of Summerville (S.C.) with over 600 wins. McKissick, who passed away on Nov. 28, 2019, retired in 2014 with 620 all-time wins. Curtis could join McKissick in the fall, however that could change if Louisiana decides to move its football season to the spring due to COVID-19.
Curtis is nearly 100 wins ahead of the No. 2 coach, Mike Smith of Hampton, on MaxPreps' list of the Top 50 winningest active football coaches. Smith, who begins his 50th year, has 494 wins and will likely become just the third coach to win over 500 games in a career. The Virginia High School League has already moved its football season to the spring season.
Danaher moves up
Phil Danaher of Calallen, No. 4 among active coaches and No. 7 all-time, can move up to No. 5 all-time. With 470 career wins, Danaher can pass the late Corky Rogers of Bolles (470) and Larry Campbell of Lincoln County (477).
Roth closes in on Curry
Jim Roth, whose Southern Columbia Area team has won 48 games in a row, can become the all-time leader in Pennsylvania, surpassing longtime Berwick coach George Curry. Roth has 444 wins while the late Curry had 454.
60 years and still going
Jerry Pezzetti of Ankeny Centennial enters his 60th year as a head football coach, joining fellow Iowan Dick Tighe (1954-2016) and McKissick (1952-2014) as the only high school coaches to coach 60 or more years.
Coaches end long careers
Three coaches finished their careers in 2019 among the nation's top 50 all-time winningest coaches. Jim France of Manchester (Ohio) ended his career at No. 33 all-time with 401 wins while Brainerd (Minn.) coach Ron Stolski ended his 58-year career with 390 wins. Rockhurst (Mo.) coach Tony Severino completed a 43-year career with 388 wins.
Information on the Top 50 active winningest coaches provided by historian Steven Floyd of Corpus Christi (Texas). Floyd has been researching high school football wins for over 15 years and annually provides MaxPreps with an updated list of the nation's top coaches.
1. John T. Curtis
School: John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)Record: 592-66-6
All-time rank: 2
Years: 51 (1969)
State Championships: 27
Last Year: 10-2
2. Mike Smith
School: Hampton (Va.) Record: 494-93-2
All-time rank: 3
Years: 49 (1971)
State Championships: 12
Last Year: 7-4
3. Robert Hyland
School: St. Mary's Springs (Fond du Lac, Wis.)Record: 477-107-2
All-time rank: 4
Years: 49 (1971)
State Championships: 17
Last Year: 12-2
4. Phil Danaher
School: Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas)Record: 470-113-4
All-time rank: 7
Years: 46 (1974)
State Championships: 0
Other schools: Dilley (1974-77), Hamshire-Fannett (1978-84)
Last Year: 12-2
5. Phillip Haywood
School: Belfry (Ky.)Record: 449-138-0
All-time rank: 9
Years: 45 (1975)
State Championships: 6
Other schools: Prestonburg (1975-83)
Last Year: 11-3
6. Bill Castle
School: Lakeland (Fla.)Record: 445-91-0
All-time rank: 10
Years: 44 (1976)
State Championships: 7
Last Year: 12-1
7. Jim Roth
School: Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.)Record: 444-63-2
All-time rank: 11
Years: 36 (1984)
State Championships: 10
Last Year: 16-0
8. Gary Rankin
School: Alcoa (Tenn.)Record: 439-76-0
All-time rank: 13
Years: 38 (1982)
State Championships: 15
Other schools: Smith County (1982-89), Riverdale (1990-2005)
Last Year: 14-1
9. C.J. Hamilton
School: Silver Lake (Kan.)Record: 432-92-0
All-time rank: 14
Years: 45 (1973-76, 1979-active)
State Championships: 8
Last Year: 10-1
10. Jerry Sinz
School: Edgar (Wis.)Record: 431-85-0
All-time rank: 16
Years: 45 (1975)
State Championships: 7
Last Year: 12-2
11. Tommy Knotts
School: Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.)Record: 430-64-0
All-time rank: 17
Years: 36 (1983-2003, 2005-active)
State Championships: 12
Other schools: Harding University (1983-88), West Charlotte (89-99), Independence (2000-03, 05-09)
Last Year: 14-0-1
12. (tie) Jerry Pezzetti
School: Ankeny Centennial (Ankeny, Iowa)Record: 429-165-1
All-time rank: 19
Years: 59 (1961)
State Championships: 2
Other schools: Murray (1961), Melcher-Dallas (1962-68), Ankeny (1969-2012)
Last Year: 8-2
12. (tie) Jim Hightower
School: St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.)Record: 429-128-1
All-time rank: 19
Years: 45 (1975)
State Championships: 3
Other schools: Catholic Point Coupee (1975-86)
Last Year: 11-2
14. Larry "Bud" Wright
School: Sheridan (Ind.)Record: 424-199-2
All-time rank: 22
Years: 55 (1965)
State Championships: 8
Other schools: Mount Ayr (1965)
Last Year: 6-4
15. David Gentry
School: Murphy (N.C.)Record: 414-191-3
All-time rank: 25
Years: 49 (1971)
State Championships: 3
Other schools: Chatham, Va. (1971-73), Edneyville (1977-83)
Last Year: 10-3
16. Dave Gutshall
School: Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.)Record: 408-139-0
All-time rank: 26
Years: 42 (1978)
State Championships: 4
Other schools: Madison-Mayodian, NC (1978-81), Kinston, NC (1982), Cummings, NC (1983-92)
Last Year: 14-1
17. Lea "Bill" Hurst
School: Centreville Academy (Centreville, Miss.)Record: 405-126-0
All-time rank: 27
Years: 43 (1975-1994k 1997-active)
State Championships: 9
Last Year: 5-7
18. Randy Allen
School: Highland Park (Dallas)Record: 403-89-6
All-time rank: 32
Years: 39 (1981)
State Championships: 4
Other schools: Ballinger (1981-85), Brownwood (1986-90), Abilene Cooper (1991-98)
Last Year: 11-2
19. (tie) Dudley Hilton
School: Bell County (Pineville, Ky.)Record: 393-123-0
All-time rank: 38
Years: 42 (1974-2010, 2014-active)
State Championships: 3
Other schools: Breathitt County (1975-82), Bell County (1983-96), Bourboun County (1997-2000), Bell County (2001-10), Taylor County (2014-16)
Last Year: 14-1
19. (tie) Ricky Black
School: Jackson Prep (Jackson, Miss.)Record: 393-76-0
All-time rank: 38
Years: 39 (1975-1990, 1997-2019)
State Championships: 13
Other schools: Kosciusko (1975-79), Tupelo (1980-90)
Last Year: 10-3
21. (tie) Reno Saccoccia
School: Steubenville (Ohio)Record: 386-74-0
All-time rank: 42
Years: 37 (1983)
State Championships: 4
Last Year: 7-4
21. (tie) Alan Chadwick
School: Marist (Atlanta)Record: 386-73-0
All-time rank: 42
Years: 35 (1985)
State Championships: 2
Last Year: 11-2
23. Ken Leonard
School: Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield, Ill.)Record: 384-79-0
All-time rank: 44
Years: 40 (1980)
State Championships: 5
Other schools: Gridley (1980-83)
Last Year: 8-4
24. Gary Swenson
School: Valley (West Des Moines, Iowa)Record: 370-110-0
Years: 44 (1976)
State Championships: 6
Other schools: Manning (1976-78), West Marshall (1978-82), Spencer (1983-94)
Last Year: 12-1
25. Ken LaChapelle
School: Northbridge (Whitinsville, Mass.)Record: 369-117-6
Years: 44 (1976)
State Championships: 10
Last Year: 7-5
26. (tie) Russ Radtke
School: Knox (Ind.)Record: 368-140-0
Years: 43 (1977)
State Championships: 1
Other schools: North Judson (1977-86), Connersville (1987-92), Griffith (1993-2011), New Prairie (2012-19), Portage (2020)
Last Year: 11-2 (New Prairie)
26. (tie) Herb Brogan
School: Lumen Christi Catholic (Jackson, Mich.)Record: 368-81
-0
Years: 40 (1980)
State Championships: 9
Last Year: 12-1
28. Dwight Lundgren
School: Becker (Minn.)Record: 367-161-3
Years: 50 (1970)
State Championships: 3
Last Year: 8-2
29. (tie) Mike Snyder
School: Seminole (Okla.)Record: 366-122-0
Years: 40 (1980)
State Championships: 1
Last Year: 5-5
29. (tie) Lewis Cook
School: Notre Dame (Crowley, La.)Record: 366-84-0
Years: 35 (1977-80, 1985-1991, 1996-active)
State Championships: 4
Other schools: Rayne (1977-80), Crowley (1985-91, 96)
Last Year: 8-2
31. Jeff Bellar
School: Norfolk Catholic (Norfolk, Neb.)Record: 363-72-0
Years: 38 (1982)
State Championships: 9
Other schools: Beaver Valley (1982-84), Norfolk Catholic (1985-95), Norfolk (1996)
Last Year: 3-6
32. Rich Zinanni
School: Bishop McNamara (Kankakee, Ill.)Record: 361-144-0
Years: 45 (1975)
State Championships: 5
Last Year: 8-4
33. Bill Young
School: Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.)Record: 359-117-0
Years: 42 (1978)
State Championships: 8
Last Year: 12-2
34. (tie) Bob Sanger
School: West Hancock (Britt, Iowa)Record: 358-158-0
Years: 42 (1968)
State Championships: 3
Other schools: Britt (1968-88)
Last Year: 13-0
34. (tie) Lou Marinelli
School: New Canaan (Conn.)Record: 358-109-7
Years: 42 (1976,1979-active)
State Championships: 12
Other schools: Mamaroneck, NY (1976), Yorktown, NY (1979-80)
Last Year: 9-3
34. (tie) Chuck Kyle
School: St. Ignatius (Cleveland)Record: 358-95-1
Years: 37 (1983)
State Championships: 11
Last Year: 5-5
34. (tie) Robbie Pruitt
School: Coffee (Douglas, Ga.)Record: 358-87-1
Years: 36 (1984)
State Championships: 7
Other schools: University Christian, FL (1984-92), Union County, FL (1995-99), Fitzgerad (2000-02), Warner Robins (2003), Fitzgerald (2004-11)
Last Year: 9-4
38. Tony DeMatteo
School: Somers (Lincolndale, N.Y.)Record: 355-104-1
Years: 51 (1969)
State Championships: 2
Other schools: Roosevelt Yonkers (1969-99)
Last Year: 6-2
39. Mike Papoccia
School: Newman Central Catholic (Sterling, Ill.)Record: 353-100-0
Years: 40 (1980)
State Championships: 6
Last Year: 13-1
40. Mike Grant
School: Eden Prairie (Minn.)Record: 350-74-0
Years: 37 (1981-86, 1989-active)
State Championships: 11
Other schools: Forest Lake (1986-86, 1989-91)
Last Year: 7-3
41. (tie) Ed Domsitz
School: Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio)Record: 347-154-1
Years: 44 (1976)
State Championships: 2
Other schools: Trotwood-Madison (1976-80), Archbishop Alter (1981-87), Northmont (1988-98)
Last Year: 7-5
41. (tie) Monte Kohler
School: O'Dea (Seattle)Record: 347-56-2
Years: 35 (1985)
State Championships: 4
Last Year: 12-1
43. Mark Wortman
School: Elkhorn (Neb.)Record: 345-94-0
Years: 40 (1980)
State Championships: 5
Last Year: 3-6
44. Jim Teague
School: Reidsville (N.C.)Record: 344-108-0
Years: 34 (1985-2008, 2010-active)
State Championships: 7
Other schools: Eastern Alamance (1985-88), Garinger (1989-91), Reidsville (1992-2008), Danville, Va. (2010-11)
Last Year: 15-1
45. Buddy Anderson
School: Vestavia Hills (Ala.)Record: 343-153-0
Years: 42 (1978)
State Championships: 2
Last Year: 8-4
46. Bob Howard
School: Webster City (Iowa)Record: 340-102-0
Years: 43 (1977)
State Championships: 3
Other schools: Scranton (1977-79), Sigourney-Keota (1980-2006)
Last Year: 6-3
47. Paul Sacco
School: St. Joseph (Hammonton, N.J.)Record: 336-66-5
Years: 38 (1982)
State Championships: 23
Last Year: 9-2
48. Scott Yates
School: Kent Denver (Englewood, Colo.)Record: 335-85-0
Years: 38 (1981-1987, 1989-active)
State Championships: 3
Last Year: 3-6
49. (tie) Don Smolyn
School: Lenape Valley (Stanhope, N.J.)Record: 334-135-13
Years: 48 (1972)
State Championships: 7
Other schools: Green Brook (1972-75)
Last Year: 10-2
49. (tie) Todd Dayton
School: Cokeville (Wyo.)Record: 334-64-0
Years: 40 (1980)
State Championships: 20
Last Year: 7-2
