Opelousas High retains state football championship, head coach still on probation

LAFAYETTE, La. ( KLFY ) – Opelousas High School will keep their state championship after an agreement with the LHSSA.

The agreement between OHS and LHSAA entails the State Championship will return to the school, head coach Jimmy Zachary will remain on probation for a year and the St. Landry School Board will return monetary funds they received from the LHSAA back to the athletic association.

The LHSAA forced OHS to forfeit all wins in the 2023 season, as well as the state championship due to what it said was an ineligible player on the OHS team. In addition OHS head coach Jimmy Zachery was to serve a one-season suspension from the football program.

The 27th District Court in St. Landry Parish decided on the matter Monday morning just before noon. Zachery filed a petition asking the court to reverse the LHSAA’s ruling to strip OHS of its 2023 D2 Non-Select State Championship title, which it won in February.

“I feel like I won the championship all over again, man. I’m just glad that everything came to a good agreement, man. I thank the LHSAA for doing the right things and agreeing to reinstating our championship,” said Zachary. “And then to get the championship back not only for those kids, for my coaches, for the city man. We all, you know, we are a bragging city we like to hang our hat on things and we can still hang our hat on that we are the state champs.”

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