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.
Maureen Homburg, the head coach of the state champion Pope John Paul II soccer team, was selected as the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s New Orleans Girls Prep Coach of the Year for 2025-26.
Homburg had the definition of a roller coaster season directing the Jaguar soccer program. In December, her father passed away, and on Feb. 12, she gave birth to her son, Wyatt. Meanwhile, she continued coaching.
She didn’t miss a game, directing PJP II to a 19-2-1 record and the LHSAA Division IV state championship. Homburg was also named the St. Tammany Parish Girls Soccer Coach of the Year.
The Jaguars rolled to three straight shutout victories (9-0 over No. 29 Rapides, 7-0 over No. 20 McGehee, 2-0 over No. 5 Catholic-New Iberia) to open the state tourney, then took down Calvary Baptist, which had upset the top seed, in a penalty kick shootout to reach the championship match.
In the title match, the Jaguars again went to penalty kicks and again they prevailed with goalkeeper Lilly Juneau saving two shots.
Outstanding Girls Prep Coach, New Orleans
