Paul Lacoste (football player)
Encyclopedia
Paul Victor Lacoste was a linebacker
in the Southeastern Conference
at Mississippi State University
and in the Canadian Football League
.
at Jackson Prep
and went on to enjoy an outstanding college career
at Mississippi State University
, where he was an All-SEC
and All-America
selection in 1996.
of the CFL in 1998, making his professional debut with the team in 1999. He finished the 1999 season second on the team with 78 tackles, earning him the 1999 CFL Rookie of the Year Award
. He had a late start to the 2000 season, after a National Football League
tryout, and was later cut by British Columbia.
In 2000, he was signed by the NFL's Indianapolis Colts
on January 25, but was released on August 21 of the same year. In 2001, Lacoste joined the XFL
's Memphis Maniax
, where he made four tackles. In 2002, he signed with the Dallas Desperados
of the Arena Football League on May 23, but was cut the very next day. In 2003, the Colts allocated Lacoste to NFL Europe
; he was to play for the Amsterdam Admirals
but he was cut at the end of training camp.
in Sports Administration from Mississippi State University
. NLS alums in the NFL include Floyd Womack
, Donald Lee
, Mario Haggan
, Justin Griffith
, and Dennis and Alvin McKinley
. Other athletes to come through NLS include: Omarr Conner (former Mississippi State
WR), Chaz Ramsey (Auburn Freshman All-American OL), Rachel Givan (UNC
soccer player) and David Traxler (Ole Miss
TE).
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
at Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
and in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Early years
Lacoste played his high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Jackson Prep
Jackson Preparatory School (Mississippi)
Jackson Preparatory School , is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school enrolling 820 students in grades six through twelve. Located in Flowood, Mississippi, a suburb of Jackson, Prep sits on a 74-acre campus east of Jackson. Prep currently offers one of only two Classical...
and went on to enjoy an outstanding college career
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
, where he was an All-SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
and All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
selection in 1996.
Professional career
He signed with the B.C. LionsBritish Columbia Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
of the CFL in 1998, making his professional debut with the team in 1999. He finished the 1999 season second on the team with 78 tackles, earning him the 1999 CFL Rookie of the Year Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
The Most Outstanding Rookie Award is annually rewarded to the player deemed to be the best player in his first year in the Canadian Football League. This is the fifth-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it...
. He had a late start to the 2000 season, after a National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
tryout, and was later cut by British Columbia.
In 2000, he was signed by the NFL's Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
on January 25, but was released on August 21 of the same year. In 2001, Lacoste joined the XFL
XFL
The XFL was a professional American football league that played for one season in 2001. The league was founded by Vince McMahon, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of WWE...
's Memphis Maniax
Memphis Maniax
The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
, where he made four tackles. In 2002, he signed with the Dallas Desperados
Dallas Desperados
The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....
of the Arena Football League on May 23, but was cut the very next day. In 2003, the Colts allocated Lacoste to NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
; he was to play for the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
but he was cut at the end of training camp.
After football
Currently, he is the owner and head trainer of Next Level Sports, a speed training specialist firm based in his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. Lacoste has a Master of ScienceMaster of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Sports Administration from Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
. NLS alums in the NFL include Floyd Womack
Floyd Womack
Floyd Seneca "Pork Chop" Womack is an American football guard for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi State.He has also played for the Cleveland Browns...
, Donald Lee
Donald Lee (football player)
Donald Tywon Lee is an American football tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs before he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft and spent two seasons with the team...
, Mario Haggan
Mario Haggan
Mario Marcell Haggan is an American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi State.-Early years:Haggan grew up in a poverty-stricken area of...
, Justin Griffith
Justin Griffith
Justin Montrel Griffith is an American football fullback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
, and Dennis and Alvin McKinley
Alvin McKinley
Alvin Jerome McKinley is a former American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
. Other athletes to come through NLS include: Omarr Conner (former Mississippi State
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
WR), Chaz Ramsey (Auburn Freshman All-American OL), Rachel Givan (UNC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
soccer player) and David Traxler (Ole Miss
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
TE).