2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 16
BY SENATORS BERNARD AND BOUDREAUX
A RESOLUTION
To commend Coach M.L. Woodruff on being inducted into the 2023 class of the Louisiana
Sports Hall of Fame.
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches, Louisiana, each year
collaborates with the Louisiana Sports Writers Association in selecting a limited number of
sports figures who embody the character, skill, and talent worthy of being named to the Hall
of Fame; and
WHEREAS, the 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Class includes Coach
M.L. Woodruff; and
WHEREAS, Coach M.L. Woodruff started his baseball coaching career in 1981 as
the baseball coach at Doyle High School in Livingston Parish; and
WHEREAS, after one season of coaching baseball, Coach Woodruff became the
head baseball coach, head basketball coach, and assistant football coach at Parkview Baptist
School in Baton Rouge, where he spent the remainder of his 30-year teaching and coaching
career until his retirement in 2010; and
WHEREAS, aside from two years while he served as the full-time athletic director
at Parkview Baptist School, Coach Woodruff was the Parkview Baptist Eagles' head baseball
coach for 27 seasons; and
WHEREAS, Coach Woodruff led the Parkview Baptist baseball program to become
one of the best in the state in all classes, winning 21 district titles and making 23 playoff
appearances; and
WHEREAS, the Eagles won 11 state championships over a 23-year span: 1986,
1987, 1989, 1997, 2002 to 2006, 2008, and 2009; and
WHEREAS, the Eagles' baseball teams achieved a perfect record of 22-0 in all
semifinal and final games played under Coach Woodruff; and
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WHEREAS, Coach Woodruff has a career record of 603-163-2 for a winning
percentage of 0.785 while coaching baseball in three different decades at Parkview Baptist
School; and
WHEREAS, Coach Woodruff was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association
(LSWA) Coach of the Year in 1986, 1987, and 1989; and
WHEREAS, the American Baseball Congress Association named Coach Woodruff
the 2007 National Coach of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Coach M.L. Woodruff was inducted into both the Louisiana High
School Sports Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame
in 2016; and
WHEREAS, in his retirement Coach Woodruff continues to use his talents and has
taken on the position of Minister of Sports Outreach for Istrouma Baptist Church where he
has grown the church's gospel-centered sports program to one of the most dynamic and
comprehensive in the city of Baton Rouge.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Coach M.L. Woodruff on being inducted into the 2023 class of the
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Coach M.L. Woodruff.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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