Coach Mike Bourgeois
A Legacy of Success: Building the Backbone of ESA Athletics
By Sophia Thom
By Sophia Thom
As Episcopal School of Acadiana is nearing 100 state championships, currently standing strong at 96, it’s important to shine a light on someone who has worn many hats in the ESA athletic department and continues to build the backbone of ESA athletics. Coach Mike Bourgeois is the current Upper School Athletic Director at ESA, a program that values grit, teamwork, and balance that ultimately has led to victory time and time again. With nearly 80% of the student body participating in athletics, there's something to be said about the integrity of the program.
Coach Mike’s coaching career began in 1992, coaching the Louisiana Stars AAU basketball team, travelling the country with talented players and leading the team to two AAU National Final 4 tournaments. Bourgeois also later returned to his alma mater, St. Thomas More, where he coached football and basketball as an assistant coach for six years until ESA reached out to him for a head basketball coach position, which he accepted in 1998. Uneasy about his new job, Bourgeois says, “It took a while, but I really loved ESA and I love the perspective of the athletes, the coaches, and the students.” As he settled into ESA, he took on the role as a track coach as well, further immersing himself into the program. Over his 16 years as the head basketball coach, he was named Teche Area Coach of the Year twice and District Coach of the Year five times. In addition to this, he led the team to five District Championships.
The unmatched atmosphere of ESA Athletics is something that Bourgeois really soaked in when he first arrived as a coach, soon realizing, “just how different the kids were because it was the first time I was in a setting where academics were more important than athletics. The maturity the kids had was unbelievable.” In addition to this the premise of an honor code, and versatility of athletes was something he quickly adapted his coaching style to. This maturity and strong sense of values completely changed the way he coached. He says, “The biggest thing when I first got here was that they always needed to know why. The biggest thing I had to learn was that it always came from a quest for knowledge.” Overall the impact ESA athletes had on Bourgeois as a coach was irreplicable; their playing style and take on the sport reached far beyond raw talent.
Bourgeois later switched roles to Athletic Director when his son Peyton Bourgeois (Class of ’21) began his high school basketball career. The balance between parent, former coach, and director was a tricky one to figure out for Bourgeois. He says, “The hard part was balancing the three roles while supporting the coach, while still being cognitive of the fact that I couldn’t be a normal parent. At times honestly it was very very hard.” Nonetheless, he was able to experience watching his child experience the place he was raised in and always welcomed in from a players perspective.
Overall Coach Mike, as a veteran of the department, has made a lasting impact on the athletes of the school in all aspects. He continues to instill the values of ESA in each and every player to take into their respective sports. Bourgeois believes that, “the work ethic of the coaches and athletes. The mentality of, we’re always just doing our best to meet our standard and never obsessing over winning or losing, that is what I truly believe has led to our volume of success across the board.” With phrases he uses such as “full benefit” and “every rep, every exercise,” Bourgeois continues to instill grit, strength, and integrity that highlights the values of ESA beyond the campus and on the courts.
Episcopal School of Acadiana
Episcopal School of Acadiana is a private coeducational day school for students in grades PK3 through 12. Our mission is to instill in every student the habits of scholarship and honor.
Episcopal School of Acadiana (Lafayette Campus)
Episcopal School of Acadiana (Cade Campus)
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