The Allstate Sugar Bowl has recognized the top girls prep coaches from the Greater New Orleans area since 2013-14 – candidates must coach a high school team that is based in the Greater New Orleans area. The honor is selected by the New Orleans Sports Awards Committee, which has been existence since 1957. From 1962-1999, the Committee recognized the top prep coach in the state of Louisiana, regardless of the sport gender, and then from 2000-2013, it honored the top New Orleans coach, regardless of sport gender. Separate awards for boys and girls prep coaches were established in 2013-14. 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.
Courtney Ward, the Sacred Heart basketball coach that guided her team to unprecedented success, was selected as the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s Outstanding Girls Prep Coach for 2024-25. Ward is the first Sacred Heart coach to be recognized by the committee.
Ward, the third-year coach of the Sacred Heart girls basketball team, did something that many people in New Orleans thought impossible: leading the Cardinals to the state championship game. Ward set her plan in motion by entering her team in summer league competition for the first time, adding a rigid strength and conditioning program, and beefing up the schedule. While Sacred Heart didn’t win many games against larger-enrollment schools, “we did play them close,” Ward said. “It was a good measurement to see where we are and where we could be.”
The result was a No. 2 playoff seed and a win over Holy Savior Menard in the LHSAA Division III quarterfinals for the Cardinals’ first-ever semifinal appearance. Their magical run continued as they knocked off No. 3 Rosepine in the state semifinals, 43-40, to reach the championship game. Despite losing in the state championship game, it was a memorable season for the Cardinals.
“Being able to make history for your school is not something that everyone gets to say,” said senior Bria Egana.
Athletic director Sue Bower said, “I’ve been talking with alumni and they’re like, ‘Basketball is good?’ They’re really good, yeah.”
Outstanding Girls Prep Coach, New Orleans
