FHS coach resigns post after DWI arrest

Richard “Gregg” Hudson, the stocky high school football coach with four consecutive district champions and a coach of the year title under his belt, had arrived two years ago at Fontainebleau High School as a savior to repeat his success.

That’s why on Thursday the news of his resignation following a Jan. 3 arrest for leading police on a four-mile pursuit that ended in a DWI arrest was all the more shocking.

Hudson, the school’s third ever head football coach, announced on Wednesday he is walking away from his two-year old coaching stint for “personal reasons” after his Jan. 3 arrest, according to St. Tammany Parish School system officials.

“In my dealings with him, (Hudson), I never had any problems,” said Dan Conlin, Fontainebleau’s athletic director. “I thought he was a good football coach, and a real good person.”

Hudson, 43, of 292 Fountains Blvd. in Mandeville, was arrested a little after 1 a.m. and booked into St. Tammany Parish Jail with DWI, flight from an officer, resisting an officer and reckless operation, all misdemeanors. He was released on $1,900 bond later that same day.

Hudson’s saga unfolded about 1 a.m. when he nearly collided with a St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy driving southbound in the next lane on U.S. Highway 190 near the Interstate 12 overpass.

The deputy, who slowed to avoid the collision, flicked on his cruiser’s patrol lights and pursued Hudson as the coach headed toward Mandeville at about 55 mph, Sheriff’s office spokesman Bonnett said. Despite the flashing lights, however, Hudson never stopped.

Before long, three other deputies were in pursuit, alongside one Mandeville Police officer, all with lights flashing. Still, Hudson never stopped.

Expecting he was headed for the Causeway or Mandeville both police departments were notified and the wait began.

Hudson soon exited the Monroe Street overpass exit in Mandeville, just north of the bridge, where he was met by six police officers.

This time he stopped.

As authorities approached, the reason for such radical driving was evident: “He reeked of alcoholic beverages,” Bonnett said.

When asked to exit the SUV, Hudson opened the car and stumbled to the ground, Bonnett said.

“He was very disrespectful to officers,” Bonnett said. “They couldn’t even administer a field sobriety test because he couldn’t stand up,” he said. “They had to hold him up to put him in the car.”

Later, Hudson refused to take a breath analysis test, and with the refusal had his license suspended for an automatic six months under Louisiana law.

Hudson took over for Larry Favre when Favre accepted the St. Tammany Parish Athletic Director’s job. Hudson compiled a 10-10 record in his two years as the Bulldogs’ head coach. He posted a 6-5 record his first season and finished 4-5 in 2008. Hudson’s Bulldogs made it to the playoffs his first season falling to Catholic High of Baton Rouge 35-13 in the bi-district round. Hudson was the head coach of St. Martinville (Class 4A) for three years before he took the Fontainebleau coaching job. His St. Martinville team was a quarterfinalist in both 2004 and 2005 and made it to the regional round in 2006 before he transferred to FHS.

Prior to coaching at St. Martinville, he was the head coach and athletic director at Bunkie High School for seven years. Hudson’s Bunkie Panthers made their way into the playoffs in five of his seven seasons, winning four consecutive District 3-3A championships from 2000-2003. He was named the District Coach of the Year all four seasons. He guided Bunkie to a 29-1 overall record and 20-0 in district play. Prior to those four district titles, Bunkie had not won a district championship since 1984.

Conlin said he has already received a number of phone calls from various parts of the country and throughout the state inquiring about the specifics of the now vacant football head coaching job.

Conlin, who started the Bulldogs’ football program in 1994 and served as the initial head coach for seven years, said Johnny Vitrano, the school’s principal, would have to find out from the school board what hiring actions are available to them when it comes to hiring a new football coach.

“Rest assured we will go out and find the best football coach available once we find out what the new hiring rules are,” Conlin said. “In the past, we have never limited ourselves when it came to selecting the best coaches. We consider qualified coaches from throughout the nation as well as from throughout the state.”