Saturday evening's conclusion to the Demon Baseball Tournament marked a very rare yet special time for former Demon Baseball Head Coach Jeff Tageant. Only once has an FHS baseball number been retired, and this was following the tragic death of 2nd baseman #14 James Ard only six weeks after his high school graduation in 1993. Coach Tageant has always been quick to explain that Ard was one of the hardest working, most dedicated players he ever had the opportunity to coach. On Saturday Number 30, the number Coach Tageant wore for many years, was retired
In May of 2023, Coach Tageant retired from teaching and coaching after a 36-year career. In 35 years he coached 804 young men in varsity baseball. Four of them went on to win National Championships in Junior College Baseball and one was drafted out of high school by the San Diego Padres. 31 went on to play baseball at the collegiate level; and 22 of them went on to become coaches as well. He coached 38 sets of brothers, and 8 fathers and sons. His career record is 565 wins, 317 losses and 2 ties. That is 882 varsity games. Add in two scrimmages each season, a jamboree each season and JV games, and he coached well over 1,000 games at FHS. His record shows that his team won 63% of the time with an average of 16 wins per season. Tageant-coached teams were District Champs 15 times, District Runners up 14 times and they made the playoffs 32 out of 35 years. Coach Tageant holds the FHS and Washington Parish School District record for most wins. He is always adamant that he did not do this alone. He had many assistant coaches who helped him carry the weight of this program and he is appreciative of them all.
Current Head Coach Clay Tageant commented, "There will likely never again be an FHS baseball coach to match the commitment, number of wins, years of service, and the impact Coach Jeff Tageant has had the lives of young men. No one else can ever adequately fill the jersey worn by him, so as of this day, number 30 is officially retired from the Demon's available jerseys. When folks at Demon Diamond look to the left of the centerfield wall, they will see #30 and remember his legacy."
Coach Tageant then threw the ceremonial first pitch. Catching him was his son, Head Coach for the Belle Chasse High School Cardinals, Coach Evan Tageant. Coaching him up from the mound was his other son, current Demon Head Coach Clay Tageant. Also in attendance were his wife Toni and members of his family. There were also three of the reasons he is enjoying his retirement and their names are Fallon Reese, Farrah Kate and Indie Grace.
Jeff Tageant throws out the first pitch in Saturday’s FHS game vs. Doyle. Catching him is his older son, Evan, who is now head baseball coach at Belle Chasse High School. Standing to the right of Jeff Tageant is his younger son, Clay,
