Top 28 Honorees – Andy Russo, UL Player 62-65, Coach 65-66, Included

Top 28 Honorees – Andy Russo, UL Player 62-65, Coach 65-66, Included

From staff reports • March 13, 2011

Since the Top 28 came to the Cajundome, the local organizing committee has honored a group of past players, coaches and officials that have contributed heavily to Louisiana basketball.

This year’s honoree group will be recognized at halftime of the 3 p.m. Class 3A state championship game. The group includes:

Sean Tuohy

Yes, before he was the real character behind the father on the movie "The Blind Side" about the real-life story of Baltimore Ravens’ offensive tackle Michael Oher, Sean Tuohy was an All-State and All-SEC guard. In 1978, he was the Class 2A state MVP at Newman and then was All-SEC for four years at Ole Miss, where he made the SEC All-Century team.Tuohy still holds all the assists records at Ole Miss and is the only basketball player in SEC history to lead a statistical category for four years. He’s currently the CEO of RGT Management, which operates 70 fast-food restaurants and is a broadcaster for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Edward "Skeets" Tuohy

The late father of Sean Tuohy who was a household name in New Orleans basketball long before his son ever came around. Tuohy coached at Newman from 1959-75 with an overall record of 403-74. That record included 15 district titles, nine state basketball appearances, three state championships and three times the Class 2A Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

John J. Altobello

He’s got a legendary name in the New Orleans area and the titles to back it up. Altobello’s career record was 589-92 at St. Aloysius and De La Salle, including eight state championship, three state runner-up finishes, once a state semifinalist, 16 district titles and 18 tournament titles.Altobello was selected to coach the South team at the annual North-South All-Star Game in Murray, Ky., in 1949 and 1953, winning both games.

Clyde "Buster" Carlisle

Carlisle coached for 40 years — 20 in Louisiana and 20 in Texas. During his years in Louisiana, he coached at Winnsboro, Castor and Minden. His career record was 1,103-375. He moved to Clarksville, Texas where he won state titles in 1995 and 1998. In 1980, he coached a Louisiana AAU team to the national championship and was the Coach of the Year in Texas in 1995 and 1998.

Andy Russo

As a high school player, Russo was an All-State selection along with future Kentucky star Cotton Nash in 1959 out of Fortier High. He then signed with the USL Bulldogs and earned second-team All-Gulf States Conference honors during his career there from 1961 to 63.Russo later transferred to Central Florida JC where he led the nation in scoring at 28 points per game.

As a high school coach at St. Aloysius, Fatima and Brother Martin, Russo had a 252-48 career record. His teams made the Top 20 five times, winning two state titles, twice being in the state finals and winning one national championship.

Athletic Network Footnote: Click here for Andy Russo’s Athletic Network Profile

Butch Fontenot

Fontenot graduated at North Central Paul Dunbar in Washington in 1961 and then coached at Washington High and North Central for over four decades. His career record is 804-297, including 15 district championships. He’s brought eight teams to the Top 28 with a state title in 1984 and a state runner-up in 1990.Fontenot has been named the parish Coach of the Year four times and the state Coach of the Year three times.

Ed Green

Green began his impact on Louisiana basketball at Holden, where he graduated in 1963. During his senior season, Holden won 13 tournaments, including the Class C state championship. He earned All-State recognition that year.

He then went on to play at McNeese State, where he was later named as the Most Valuable Player on the All-Gulf States team. As a senior, he led the Cowboys to a school-record 20 consecutive wins and earned a No. 5 ranking in NCAA Division II.Green later coached at Albany, Hammond and Maurepas High.