Ray Coates, 1943     As captain of the 1943 Jesuit squad, Ray led his team to an 18-14 victory over Holy Cross, an undefeated season, and the Louisiana state championship.  In the Holy Cross contest before 25,000 fans at City Park Stadium, Ray alone picked up more yards than all of the Tiger ball carriers combined. His 70-yard touch-down run in the third quarter proved to be the game’s winning play. At Jesuit, Ray was a four-sport letterman. After graduating from Jesuit in 1944, Ray went on to star for LSU, playing along side future NFL Hall of Famer Y.A. Tittle. In the 1948 NFL draft, the New York Giants selected Ray as the 57th overall pick.  He played two years in the NFL before returning to his alma mater to teach and coach. Ray served as Jesuit’s head coach for the 1966-1970 seasons, winning the District V- AAA title in 1970.   Ray retired from Jesuit in 1988 after a 32 year career at the school.           Ray Coates returned to Jesuit this past summer  for the Class of 1978 Thirtieth Reunion.        Jesuit Archives: Ray Coates   From The Blue Jay     Ray Coates in the Jesuit Football Record Book   Longest Pass Completion 1943: Tom Loker from Ray Coates, 79 Yard (5th)   Longest Interception Return 1943: Against Baton Rouge High School, 100 yards (1st) 1942: Against St. Stanislaus High School, 98 yards (2nd)   Longest Punt Return 1943: Against Fortier High School, 93 yards (1st)