Tommy Joe Eagles

Tommy Joe Eagles (1949-1994)

Teams coached: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, Auburn Tigers
Louisiana Tech record: 87-40 (.685)
Auburn record: 64-78 (.451)
Overall record: 151-118 (.561)

Career Accomplishments:

• NCAA National Championships:  0
• NCAA Tournament Appearances:  2  (1987, 1989)
• NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  0
• NIT Championships:  0
• NIT Appearances:  3  (1986, 1988, 1993)
• American South Regular Season Champion:  1  (1988)
• Southland Regular Season Champion:  1  (1987)
• American South Tournament Champion:  2  (1988, 1989)
• Southland Tournament Champion:  1  (1987)

Awards:

• SEC Coach of the Year:  1  (1990)
• Southland Coach of the Year:  1  (1987)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1994	New Orleans
1989-1994	Auburn
1985-1989	Louisiana Tech
1978-1985	Louisiana Tech (asst)

Tommy Joe Eagles Facts

• Tommy Joe Eagles
• Born April 3, 1949
• Died July 30, 1994
• Hometown: Doyline, Louisiana
• Alma Mater: Louisiana Tech University (BA, 1971)
• Played for four seasons at Louisiana Tech under head basketball coach Scotty Robertson
  • Served as a co-captain for the Bulldogs during his senior season (1970-71)
• Started his career at the high school level in Louisiana, coaching at Cedar Creek HS (in Ruston) and Simsboro HS
• Returned to his alma mater in 1978 to be an assistant under head coach J. D. Barnett
  • Stayed on for seven seasons, six of which were under the Bulldogs’ next head coach, Andy Russo
• Took over as head coach at Louisiana Tech in 1985, leading the program for the next four seasons
  • Won two conference titles (one ASC and one Southland) and three conference tournaments (two ASC and one Southland)
    • Went to the NCAA Tournament twice and the NIT twice
  • Was 87-40 overall, winning 20+ games in each of his four seasons at the helm
• Left for Auburn in 1989, coaching the Tigers for the next five seasons
  • Went just 64-78 at Auburn, appearing in one NIT (1993) but failing to reach the NCAA Tournament
  • Resigned in 1994 following the Tigers’ 11-17 (3-13 SEC) season
• Accepted the head coaching position at New Orleans in 1994, but never coached a game for the Privateers
• Suffered a heart attack in July 1994 while visiting his former coach Scotty Robertson and other former players in Salt Lake City
  • Survived by his wife, Connie, their son, Jamie, and daughter, Katie
  • Posthumously inducted into the Louisiana Tech Athletics HOF (c/o 2017) and Louisiana Basketball HOF (c/o 2018)

Tommy Joe Eagles Coaching Tree

• Jerry Loyd (Dillard, Louisiana Tech)
• Tic Price (Lamar, McNeese State, Memphis, New Orleans)