James J. Corbett Award

The Corbett Award was created in 1967 and named in honor of the late James J. Corbett to commemorate his many contributions to intercollegiate athletics and specifically to the Sugar Bowl. At the time of his death, Mr. Corbett was the Athletic Director at Louisiana State University. These awards are presented annually to the most outstanding amateur male and female athletes in the State of Louisiana. The Corbett recipients are selected each year by members of the New Orleans Sports Awards Committee, based on nominations submitted by the state’s sportswriters, sportscasters and sports information directors.

While the Committee didn’t began presenting separate Corbett Awards to the top male and female athletes in 2000, it did recognize both the top male and female amateur athletes each year. Those athletes are listed below the official Corbett Award winners. The group also recognized the state’s top amateur athletes before designating the Corbett Award in 1967.

Since its inception in 1967 (through 2023), Corbett Award winners include 19 NFL players, nine Major League Baseball players, four NBA players (including two Hall of Famers), 11 Olympians (including eight Gold Medal winners), three WNBA players and one PGA Tour star.

Corbett Award Winners Shine at 2022 World Track & Field Championships

All-Time Corbett Award Winners

• 2022-23: Dylan Crews, LSU Baseball
• 2022-23: Angel Reese, LSU Basketball
   
• 2021-22: Alia Armstrong, LSU Track & Field
• 2021-22: Zach Wrightsil, Loyola Basketball
   
• 2020-21: JuVaughn Harrison, LSU Track & Field (Olympian)
• 2020-21: Kristen Nuss, LSU Beach Volleyball
   
• 2019-20: Joe Burrow, LSU Football (NFL)
• 2019-20: Tonea Marshall, LSU Track & Field
   
• 2018-19: Sarah Finnegan, LSU Gymnastics
• 2018-19: Devin White, LSU Football (NFL)
   
• 2017-18: Armand Duplantis, Lafayette High School Track & Field (Olympic Gold)
• 2017-18: Aleia Hobbs, LSU Track & Field (Olympic Silver)
   
• 2016-17: Sam Burns, LSU Golf (PGA)
• 2016-17: Ashleigh Gnat, LSU Gymnastics

• 2015-16: Lexie Elkins, UL-Lafayette Softball
• 2015-16: Leonard Fournette, LSU Football (NFL)
   
• 2014-15: Lexie Elkins, UL-Lafayette Softball
• 2014-15: Alex Lange, LSU Baseball (MLB)
   
• 2013-14: Leonard Fournette, St. Augustine High School Football (NFL)
• 2013-14: Christina Hamilton, UL-Lafayette Softball

• 2012-13: Kimberlyn Duncan, LSU Track & Field
• 2012-13: Aaron Nola, LSU Baseball (MLB)
   
• 2011-12: Morris Claiborne, LSU Football (NFL)
• 2011-12: Christi Orgeron, UL-Lafayette Softball
   
• 2010-11: Kimberlyn Duncan, LSU Track & Field
• 2010-11: Patrick Peterson, LSU Football (NFL)
   
• 2009-10: Louis Coleman, LSU Baseball (MLB)
• 2009-10: Susan Jackson, LSU Gymnastics
   
• 2008: Ashley Brignac, UL-Lafayette Softball
• 2008: Tyrell Fenroy, UL-Lafayette Football
   
• 2007: Matt Forté, Tulane Football (NFL)
• 2007: Sylvia Fowles, LSU Basketball (WNBA, Olympic Gold)
   
• 2006: Seimone Augustus, LSU Basketball (WNBA, Olympic Gold)
• 2006: Xavier Carter, LSU Track & Field
   
• 2005: Seimone Augustus, LSU Basketball (WNBA, Olympic Gold)
• 2005: Micah Owings, Tulane Baseball (MLB)
   
• 2004: Seimone Augustus, LSU Basketball (WNBA, Olympic Gold)
• 2004: Marcus Spears, LSU Football (NFL)
   
• 2003: Seimone Augustus, LSU Basketball (WNBA, Olympic Gold)
• 2003: Chad Lavalais, LSU Football (NFL)
   
• 2002: Michael Aubrey, Tulane Baseball (MLB)
• 2002: Julie Smekodub, Tulane Tennis
   
• 2001: Josh Reed, LSU Football (NFL)
• 2001: Britni Sneed, LSU Softball
   
• 2000: Brad Cresse, LSU Baseball
• 2000: Peta-Gaye Dowdie, LSU Track & Field (Olympian)
   
• 1999: Tim Rattay, Louisiana Tech Football (NFL)

• 1998: Shaun King, Tulane Football (NFL)

• 1997: Brandon Larson, LSU Baseball (MLB)

• 1996: Warren Morris, LSU Baseball (MLB)

• 1995: Kerry Joseph, McNeese State Football (NFL)

• 1994: Russ Johnson, LSU Baseball (MLB)

• 1993: Todd Walker, LSU Baseball (MLB)

• 1992: Shaquille O’Neal, LSU Basketball (NBA, Olympic Gold)

• 1991: Shaquille O’Neal, LSU Basketball (NBA, Olympic Gold)

• 1990: Esther Jones, LSU Track & Field (Olympic Gold)

• 1989: Chris Jackson, LSU Basketball (NBA)

• 1988: Teresa Weatherspoon, Louisiana Tech Basketball (WNBA, Olympic Gold)

• 1987: Marc Zeno, Tulane Football

• 1986: Eun Jung Lee, Northeast Louisiana Basketball

• 1985: Lauri Young, Northeast Louisiana Track & Field

• 1984: Kim Mulkey, Louisiana Tech Basketball (Olympic Gold)

• 1983: Buford Jordan, McNeese State Football (NFL)

• 1982: Alan Risher, LSU Football (NFL)

• 1981: Pam Kelly, Louisiana Tech Basketball (WBB Hall of Fame)

• 1980: Hal Sutton, Centenary Golf (PGA)

• 1979: Roch Hontas, Tulane Football

• 1978: Charles Alexander, LSU Football (NFL)

• 1977: Doug Williams, Grambling Football (NFL)

• 1976: Terry Robiskie, LSU Football (NFL)

• 1975: Robert Parish, Centenary Basketball (NBA Hall of Fame)

• 1974: Terry Kieffer, UNO Baseball

• 1973: Rodney Milburn, Southern Track & Field (Olympic Gold)

• 1972: Bert Jones, LSU Football (NFL)

• 1971: Rodney Milburn, Southern Track & Field (Olympic Gold)

• 1970: Rick Kingrea, Tulane Football (NFL)

• 1969: Pete Maravich, LSU Basketball (NBA Hall of Fame)

• 1968: Pete Maravich, LSU Basketball (NBA Hall of Fame)

• 1967: Nelson Stokley, LSU Football

Amateur Athletes of the Year for Louisiana (non-Corbett Award winners)

• 1999: Kim Willoughby, Assumption H.S. Volleyball
• 1990: Walter Dean, Grambling State Football
• 1987: Kristie Phillips, Gymnastics
• 1986: Terrence Jones, Tulane Football
• 1983: Kim Mulkey, Louisiana Tech Basketball (co-winner)
• 1983: Michel Broussard, Vandebilt Catholic H.S. Softball (co-winner)
• 1982: Kim Mulkey, Louisiana Tech Basketball
• 1975: Pam Jiles, USA Track & Field
• 1974: Liz Higgins, Diving Champion
• 1971: Mrs. William R. Seay, Golf
• 1970: Linda Tuero, Tennis
• 1969: Linda Tuero, Tennis
• 1968: Linda Tuero, Tennis
• 1967: Linda Tuero, Tennis