Minden High alumnus Ronnie Coker, who led Parkway and Captain Shreve to baseball state championships as head coach, will be posthumously inducted into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame in April.
As a player, Coker helped Minden win back-to-back Class 3A state championships in 1981 and 1982. He graduated in 1982.
Coker, who passed away at 58 after a lengthy battle with colon cancer in June of 2023, guided Parkway to the Class 4A state championship in 1998 and Captain Shreve to the 4A title in 2007.
Coker is one of nine members of the 2025 Class that will be inducted April 25 during the Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony at the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge.
A 1982 graduate of Minden, Coker helped the Crimson Tide win back-to-back state championships.
He was the head baseball coach at Parkway from 1991-99, compiling a record of 196-75. He spent one year as head coach at Byrd before moving to Captain Shreve, where he coached for five years.
His overall record starting with his first year at Parkway was 357-145-1 in 15 seasons. He spent the remainder of his career as athletic director at Airline before retiring in 2021.
Coker was inducted into the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2019.
In 2021, the Parkway baseball stadium was named Ronnie Coker Field.
“That’s just so incredible,” Coker told the school board then via Zoom when the measure was approved at meeting. “I’m speechless. I give God all the glory. Stuff like this doesn’t happen because of me.
“Stuff like this happens because of the kids, the administrators, the coaches that I’ve been so blessed with and so grateful for the opportunity to work alongside them. President Smith, this is just humbling.I really can’t grasp this right now. It’s just so humbling.”
Former Airline principal Jason Rowland, now Bossier Schools superintendent, said the following after Coker received the Bossier Parish’s final Gold Star of the 2020-21 school year.
“I used to say that everything Coach Coker touched turned to gold. He has been a cornerstone for the culture that has been established at AHS, but before his tenure at the ‘A’ he did the same for Parkway High School, Byrd High School and Captain Shreve High School. With every stop he has made, the fingerprints of Coach Coker are all over the school and community. His recognition today is very deserving and defines the spirit of what we should all hope to become.”
After retiring, Coker created the Win The Day Foundation. The foundation sponsored numerous camps in multiple sports.
Joining Coker in the Class of 2025 Hall of Fame inductees are Michael Bayer (contributor), Melissa “Ashley” Aldredge Brooks (competitor), Tony Lee Cutright (competitor), Barbara Farris (competitor/coach), O.M. “Butch” Helveston (coach), Br. Martin Hernandez, S.C. (contributor) Jennifer Streiffer Mascaro (competitor) and Ruby Smith Qualls (coach).
The Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony is set for April 25, 2025, at the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge.
The following is from the LHSAA press release announcing the nine inductees.
“This prestigious group of nine individuals represents the pinnacle of excellence in high school sports, embodying the spirit, dedication, and passion that define Louisiana athletics.
Each year the LHSAA and LHSCA invites all member school principals and coaches to make nominations of deserving coaches, athletes, administrators, officials, and athletic contributors for consideration into the Hall of Fame. Certain criteria are required for the application to be accepted and the individual’s name placed on the list for consideration.
On Thursday August 22, 2024, the Hall of Fame Selection Committee met to review the nominations and decide this year’s inductees. The committee is made up of Keith Alexander, Kim Gaspard, Jimmy Anderson, Kenny Gennuso, Eddie Bonine, Kathy Holloway, Shannon Foolkes, Ryan Gallagher, Karen Hoyt, James Simmons, Eric Held, Robin Fambrough, Phillip Timothy, and Ken Wood.”