Delgado Athletic Director and Head Coach Joe Scheuermann was officially inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in a star-studded ceremony held June 28 in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The ceremony capped off three days of events celebrating the Hall's Class of 2025 as they officially joined the roster of Louisiana legends in the state's official sports hall of fame.
Scheuermann, who just completed his 35th season as Head Baseball Coach at Delgado, follows in the footsteps of his father, Louis "Rags" Scheuermann, the local baseball legend and program founder who was enshrined in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in June 1990, almost 35 years to the day of Joe's induction. Together, they become the fourth father–son duo ever inducted, including Dub and Bert Jones, Slats and Billy Hardin, and Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning.
Reflecting on the honor, Scheuermann shared, "My dad was my idol… I remember sitting on his lap in the dugout. The fact that we're in it together is special. This induction is not just mine—it's for all the players, families, and community that have been part of this team."
Scheuermann's father "Rags" founded the Delgado program as the first two-year college athletic program in the State of Louisiana, now celebrating its fiftieth season of operation. Ironically, Joe succeeded his father as Head Coach at Delgado following Rags' retirement during his 1990 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction. Over his three decade tenure at Delgado, Scheuermann has continued and built upon his family's rich baseball legacy while establishing himself as one of the most respected coaches in the region. He became Louisiana's all-time winningest college baseball coach in May 2024, surpassing Tony Robichaux with 1,179 victories. His teams made five NJCAA Division I World Series appearances, most recently in 2023, and secured fourteen consecutive NJCAA Region XXIII titles along with seventeen Super Regional berths through 2024. In 2019, Scheuermann become the first coach in Louisiana history to eclipse the 1000-win mark as head coach at the same college. Academics have thrived under his leadership too: over 140 student-athletes earned their Delgado degrees since 2014, and the 2024 roster set a program GPA record with sixteen players at 3.8 or higher. Scheuermann's tenure at Delgado has been marked by not only wins but a stellar record in player development—over 290 players sent to Division I programs, 29 MLB draft picks in just the past decade, and 146 student-athletes earning their Delgado degrees since 2014.
Scheuermann has maintained strong community engagement, serving as a mentor and partner to dozens of his former players who have gone into the coaching profession. He oversees the operation of Delgado's "Rags" Scheuermann Field at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium, which hosts over three hundred local baseball games annually. In 2016, Scheuermann was recognized with the Allstate Sugar Bowl's Eddie Robinson Award, presented to the local administrator whose players excel in academics, athletics, sportsmanship, and citizenship while maximizing the use of limited resources. This past October, Louisiana's Community and Technical College System (LCTCS), Delgado's governing body, presented Scheuermann with its Statewide Impact Award to recognize his role in changing the lives of students and their families throughout the State of Louisiana.
Scheuermann attributes his program's most recent successes to the renaissance that followed the devasation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Joining his players and staff, Scheuermann led a massive recovery and fundraising effort that salvaged the 2006 season and allowed the Dolphins to become the first Katrina-devastated college program to return to play after the disaster. Over the nearly twenty years that have followed, the Dolphins have continued along the path to success, including transformative facility improvements, strengthened academics, and building one of the most respected athletic programs in the country on and off the field.
Scheuermann has served as Delgado's Athletic Director since 2013, overseeing major projects such as a renovation of the Michael Williamson Center basketball complex in 2018 and the construction and dedication of the Gayle and Tom Benson Athletic Complex this past November. The six thousand square foot athletic complex houses the program's first permanent locker room, equipment storage, and coaches offices, as well as an athletic training room, study hall and multi-purpose space for Delgado's three athletic teams.
The three-day induction celebration (June 26–28) featured events like the VIP Tailgate Taste, Bowling Bash, luncheon, reception, and the grand ceremony at the Natchitoches Events Center—broadcast live statewide through Louisiana Public Broadcasting. The Class of 2025 included Nick Saban (seven national championships as LSU and Alabama Head Football coach), Andrew Whitworth (NFL Pro Bowl offensive tackle, Super Bowl LVI champion, LSU national title winner), Danny Granger (NBA All-Star; Grace King High and Team USA standout), Vickie Johnson (WNBA All-Star and Lady Techsters legend), Danny Broussard (St. Thomas More High School basketball coach with 1,130+ wins), April Burkholder (14‑time LSU All‑American gymnast; 2006 NCAA balance beam champion), Dale Weiner (Catholic High School football coach with 317 wins, 2016 state title), Bobby" Soileau (LSU boxing champion and high school football coach), Herb Vincent (SEC Associate Commissioner; recipient of the Dave Dixon Sports Leadership Award), Ed Daniels (Longtime WGNO-TV sportscaster in New Orleans; honored with the Distinguished Service Award), Glenn Guilbeau (Baton Rouge sportswriter with decades of distinguished coverage; also honored with the Distinguished Service Award).
This induction not only celebrates Scheuermann's monumental impact on Louisiana collegiate baseball but also honors a powerful family legacy that continues into its third generation of Scheuermann family involvement with the storied program. The ceremony will be rebroadcast in its entirety on WLAE New Orleans on July 4 at 4pm CT, WYES New Orleans on July 7 at 9:30 p.m. CT and statewide on LPB on July 6 at 1:30 p.m. CT. The show is also available On Demand on LPB's YouTube Channel.
Established in 1958, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame honors the state's greatest athletes, coaches, and sports figures who have made significant contributions to the world of athletics. Located in historic downtown Natchitoches, the Hall of Fame celebrates Louisiana's rich sports heritage through dynamic exhibits, immersive storytelling, and annual induction ceremonies that draw fans and legends from across the country. Operated in partnership with the Louisiana State Museum system, the Hall of Fame not only preserves the legacy of Louisiana's sports icons but also inspires future generations through education, outreach, and celebration of excellence.
View the full 2025 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame ceremony here...
View Joe Scheuermann Induction Video and Interview here...
View the official recap of the 2025 Hall of Fame Weekend here...
View Scheuermann's official LSHOF Induction Profile here...
View WWL-TV's post-induction interview with Coach Scheuermann here...
View a Photo Gallery of the weekend's events
