By Hunter Bower, GeauxPreps

Recipients for the inaugural GeauxPreps.com High School Football Coach of the Year Awards Presented by Chevyland of Shreveport were announced Thursday, Dec. 31, in the afternoon.

The awards, which were handed out following the completion of each year’s state football championships, recognizes worthy program leaders from each classification combined of both non-select and select programs across the state.

In a season that was dominated by COVID-19 issues, multiple catastrophic hurricanes and championship location changes, the following coaches adapted and earned the distinction by encompassing all the traits of a true leader.

Class 1A: Jeff Wainwright -Grand Lake High School

A worldwide pandemic and two major hurricanes didn’t keep the Grand Lake Hornets from making history in 2020.

Jeff Wainwright, in his second season as the Hornets’ head coach, mentored a squad that advanced to its first state title game in just the school’s eighth year of playing football.

The “Hurricane Hornets”, as dubbed by the Grand Lake community, proved to be road warriors all season, playing their “home” games at Jennings High School when they were not on the road.

Despite Hurricane Laura hitting the Cameron Parish school in late August while Hurricane Delta delivered another punch in late September, Grand Lake was determined to play its season. The Hornets fought to earn the No. 3 seed where it scored wins against No. 11 Centerville and No. 2 East Iberville and advanced to the Class 1A State Championship.

Grand Lake held eventual state champion Oak Grove, who averaged 60 points per playoff game, to 33 points in the finals.