Sugar Bowl

The Allstate Sugar Bowl has recognized the top prep coaches from the Greater New Orleans area since 2000 – candidates must coach a high school team that is based in the Greater New Orleans area. From 1962-1999, the award was presented to the top prep coach in the state of Louisiana, regardless of the sport gender, and then from 2000-2013, the award was presented to the top New Orleans coach, regardless of sport gender. A separate award for girls’ prep coach was established for 2013-14. The honor is selected by the Greater New Orleans Sports Awards Committee, which has been existence since 1957. All of the Sugar Bowl annual awards were presented on a calendar-year basis until 2009 when the Committee changed to an academic calendar (July-June). The annual awards banquet is typically held in late July or early August. Records from 1991-98 are not available.
 
Cullen Doody, who directed Jesuit to one of the best cross country seasons in Louisiana history, was selected as the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s Greater New Orleans Boys’ Prep Coach of the Year for 2022-23. Doody capped an impressive season by being named the national boys cross country coach of the year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Doody arrived at Jesuit High School, his alma mater, in 2020 and put the runners on an 18-month training schedule he believed would result in a state championship. He was proven correct when the Blue Jays won the 2021 state title with then-sophomore Michael Vocke as the lead runner. One year later, Jesuit won a second consecutive championship with senior Jack DesRoches — a Vanderbilt commitment — as the lead runner. The Blue Jays posted the five fastest times at the Division I meet in November to achieve a perfect score of 15 points. In addition to the state championship, Jesuit won against national-level competition at meets in Alabama and Indiana. 

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