Brian Lumar, principal of Hahnville High in Destrehan, LA was formerly the basketball opponent nobody wished to meet. His time spent playing ball for Loyola University, New Orleans, was one he (and so many others) will never forget, and he’s managed to clinch induction into the Loyola Hall of Fame for a second time.
As a two-time Loyola Hall of Famer, his status works wonders to inspire his students to achieve their dreams and drive his school toward continued success.
The Youngest Loyola Alumnus Strikes Again
Lumar has established himself as one of the best on the court while at school, his talents were given the accolade they deserve when he starred as the youngest Loyola alumnus to have his number enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
It’s only natural to assume 2001 was his first and only time being inducted into the hall of fame. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Early 2019 marked his second induction into the Loyola Hall. Entering alongside his coaches and teammates on the 1994 to 1995 basketball team. Having won the Southwestern Regional Champion in that period, they’ve received their Hall spot as one of the school’s best teams.
From Underdogs to Champions
Believe it or not, the aforementioned team, Wolfpack, was the underdog. The basketball program had just been re-instated following the cancellation of athletics in 1971 — they didn’t have the scholarship athletes nor experienced players like their opposition.
And yet? They dominated. Though their talent wasn’t obvious, it became clear during their early upset against Spring Hill and their fourth position in the NAIA Division I.
Wolfpack went on to earn a top seed in the Southwestern Conference Regional Tournament and scored the win there too, achieving a spot in the NAIA National Tournament.
And none other than Brian Lumar obtained the “Academic All-American” status that season.
1,800+ Points, 1,000+ Rebounds
He finished his career as the university’s best scorer and rebounder, boasting more than 1,800 points and over 1,000 rebounds.
Going on to indulge in the prep coaching ranks, he wrangled his first assistant coach position at the Eagles, helping the boys reach two state championships.
But assisting wasn’t going to sit well forever. Aspiring to be a head coach, he jumped at the chance to coach Hahnville’s basketball team. With Lumar’s guidance, they went on to achieve state finalist status in 2003 and 2009.
Basketball Champion, Coach Aficionado, High-School Principal Extraordinaire.
After all that success on and beside the court, he decided he’d be able to help young people better inside the classroom, returning to school to earn his master’s. Ultimately, this led to him becoming the principal he is today.
Brian says he feels amazing about being inducted again, surrounded by his former teammates and coaches who “played hard, played smart, and played together.”
They truly were a team of dedicated, studious athletes who worked hard in and out of the classroom.
