Coach of a Lifetime Book Signing with Coach Lewis Cook and Author Gaylon White

Join us for a special program featuring legendary high school football coach and Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Lewis Cook and author Gaylon H. White as they discuss their new book, Coach of a Lifetime: The Story of Lewis Cook Jr., Legendary High School Football Coach.

Coach Cook, head coach at Notre Dame High School in Acadia Parish since 1997, is beloved throughout Louisiana—and with good reason. The book’s title, Coach of a Lifetime, was inspired by a heartfelt gift: a Heisman-like trophy presented to him by former NFL All-Pro safety Orlando Thomas of the Minnesota Vikings, who played under Cook in both high school and college. The inscription reads, “Thanks for your Support, Love, Honesty, and Friendship.”

Born and raised in Rayne, Louisiana, Cook’s coaching career has spanned more than five decades and just 30 miles of Interstate 10—from Crowley to Lafayette—but his impact is immeasurable. The 2025 season will mark his 52nd year in coaching and 41st year as a head coach. He has led teams at Rayne, Crowley, and Notre Dame High Schools, earning 407 wins and five state championships—his first at Crowley in 1989, followed by four more at Notre Dame.

Gaylon H. White is the author of six books, including Coach of a Lifetime. His previous works include The Best Little Baseball Town in the World, Left on Base in the Bush Leagues, Singles and Smiles, The Bilko Athletic Club, and Handsome Ransom Jackson: Accidental Big Leaguer, all published by Rowman & Littlefield. A former sportswriter for the Denver Post, Arizona Republic, and Oklahoma Journal, White spent nearly 40 years in the corporate world before turning to full-time writing. He and his wife, Mary, live in Kingsport, Tennessee.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit our FLASH Facebook page or call (318) 357-2492.