By SUE ELLEN ROSS-Staff Writer

THIBODAUX – The behind-the-scenes life of a successful high school football team is dedication and team work, according to Jan DuPont.

Her husband, Laury, is the head coach of the West St. John High School Rams, the 2003 state champions of the Class 2A Title. They joined two other River Parishes teams – Hahnville Tigers and the Lutcher Bulldogs – in winning a state title for their high school this year.

“This has been an awesome year,” said the coach’s wife. “In 30 years of watching my husband’s football teams, this was – by far – the best.”

She added that the team is a great group of athletes who put their heart and soul into the game.

Jan and Laury were high school sweethearts, living across the street from each other as they grew up in Thibodaux. Both attended E.D. White Catholic High school, where their son, Scott, 31, now teaches.

Daughter Michelle, 26, lives in Baton Rouge and is an x-ray technologist.

All four member of the DuPont family are graduates of E.D. White Catholic High School.

Jan’s admiration for her husband goes far beyond the football field. “Not only does he enjoy coaching his athletes, he also strives to help them become successful in life,” she said.

She observes, firsthand, the time, energy and patience her husband displays both on and off the field. “He tried to keep it (home life) as normal as possible during that last week (before the Superdome),” she said. “However, there were a lot of phone calls from television stations and newspaper reporters, which we did welcome.”

Both of the couple’s children agree that this was a very exciting year at West St. John High School.

“Scott was most pleased that the athletes played as a team for all 15 games. That’s hard to come by these days,” said his mom.

The coach’s wife is a lesson in dedication herself – she has only missed five of her husband’s games in the past 30 years. Spending this much time in the stands has given her the opportunity to hear the fans comments – both good and bad.

Taking into consideration that she has to see and hear some negative comments, among the positive ones, it is admirable that she stays so upbeat.

“Knowing how hard my husband and his staff work, makes it very hard to have to listen to this (negativity),” she said.

But its a challenge Jan Dupont meets with class and style, just the way you would expect of a coach’s wife.