AFSC Coach Linden Joseph Bercegeay Jr.

1937 - 2021

Coach Linden Joseph Bercegeay, Jr., AFSC, age 84, of Lafayette, Louisiana, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, October 20, 2021. He was born to the late Linden and Edith Bercegeay of Gonzales, Louisiana on August 31, 1937. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 10:00 AM at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette. The family will receive visitors at the Cathedral on Tuesday from 8:00 AM until the time of the service. Interment with military honors will be in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery. Reverend Monsignor J. Douglas Courville, Pastor of St. Steven Catholic Church in Berwick, Louisiana, and longtime family friend, will conduct the funeral services. Originally from Gonzales, Louisiana, Linden called Acadiana, "home," for over 60 years. He was the youngest brother of five sisters, and learned many tough love lessons while growing up as a "country boy." At an early age, his family taught him the importance of hard work, discipline, and to have strong values in the Catholic faith. He was also taught to be honest and to be a man of his word. He developed an interest in football and baseball which he was told was a privilege only after completing his many chores at home. He had great respect for his high school football coaches, and it was at that time in his life that he began to develop his leadership skills. The teams that he played on for Gonzales High School won 32 straight games before losing the state championship his senior year. During his last season, Linden was named to the All-State Football Team as a guard and was recruited by a number of colleges. In 1955, Linden was awarded a full football scholarship to the Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI), now named the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He was a four-year letterman, and continued to improve not only on his athletic skills, but his winning philosophy that would be used throughout his teaching and coaching careers. Linden was named Most Valuable Lineman and Team Captain for both his junior and senior years of college football. In 1958, he was also chosen as a 1st Team All Gulf-States Conference guard, the SLI Outstanding Catholic Athlete of the Year, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Arts Education. The following year he served as the offensive line coach of the newly re-named University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL), formerly SLI, as graduate assistant coach. In 1960, Linden began a job as an assistant football coach in Savannah Georgia at Wayne Grimes High School. Just a month after his first season there, he was drafted into the United States Army serving as a unit clerk for the Headquarters 4th US Army in San Antonio Texas. During his two years of service, Linden also coached football as an assistant football coach at Robert G. Cole High School. Upon completion of his military service and Honorable Discharge, Linden worked briefly at Northside High School in Lafayette coaching track and field before being hired by the Christian Brothers at Cathedral all boys High School. There he served as an assistant and later co-head football and head field track coach. While at Cathedral High School, Linden earned the respect of students, athletes, faculty and administrators for his disciplined, Christian teaching and coaching style all with a goal-oriented philosophy. His track and field teams won district and regional championships which had not been accomplished in many years. In 1965, Linden began coaching football and track at St. Aloysius High School, currently known as Brother Martin High School. A year later, he was the defensive coordinator at Baker High School for the football team where he also was the head track and field coach. His track team won the district championship that spring and it was at this time, he was given the head football job at the newly consolidated Cathedral-Carmel coed high school by the Christian Brothers. While still teaching at Baker High School, Linden would leave Baker, Louisiana around 3:00 AM to drive to Lafayette for 5:00 AM football practices at Cathedral-Carmel and then drive back to Baker for a full day of teaching. He did this for many weeks before the end of the school year to set the tone and expectations for the upcoming season for his new job. In 1968, Linden won his first of many district football championships at Cathedral-Carmel High School. His hard-nose coaching philosophy and his unique personality in dealing with students, athletes, and faculty left a positive impression. He always said, to be a good listener; don't talk too much too soon; don't always be trying to get someone's attention - - Listen! And when you say something make it mean something. As the head football coach for 13 years, his teams posted a record of 101-44-1, winning 71% of his regular season games and 60% of his teams' playoff appearances. His teams won or shared six district titles and came in as runner-ups four times in the district with the yearly state contender, Notre Dame High School. His teams went to the playoffs nine of 13 seasons during a time when only the 1st and 2nd place teams could qualify for the playoffs. He also led his football teams to eight bi-district and three regional championships. He was selected District Football Coach of the Year in 1968, 1978, and in 1979. In 2001, the Daily Advertiser of Lafayette named him to the All-Time Kiwanis Club Jamboree Football Team as the Best Coach of the 1970s. In 2008, Cathedral-Carmel dedicated it's football practice field as "Linden Bercegeay Football Field." Linden was also a life-time member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. After being motivated by the Christian Brothers to keep broadening his horizons, Linden earned his Masters of Education Degree from USL in 1972, and began his time as assistant principal, disciplinarian, and facility maintenance supervisor at Cathedral-Carmel High School. He accomplished these roles in conjunction with his coaching duties in football and track while remaining in the classroom as a civics and government teacher. It was important for Linden to remain in the classroom to be able to relate as a teacher in his administrative position. From 1982 to 1997, Linden was the first lay principal of the newly restructured Cathedral-Carmel Elementary School. His focus remained being a leader of educational excellence for his elementary and middle school students. He also transitioned from coaching football players to coaching his faculty members with the same expectations of them with their students. Linden was named Outstanding Elementary School Principal of the Year in the 1987-88 and 1991-92 school years, an Honorary Alumni of Cathedral-Carmel School in 1984, and was awarded his highest honor as an educator to be an Affiliated Christian Brother in 1988. His principality as his coaching and teaching careers was exceptional. After being an educational leader and having a positive influence on thousands of students, faculty members, administrators, and staff during his 32 career at Cathedral-Carmel, Linden retired as an educator. Linden was also a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and parrain. He loved to spend time with his family, and was a master at balancing his professional and family time. He was an avid outdoorsman from an early age, and loved to hunt, fish and played many rounds of golf with his friends. He was a member of the National Hole-in One Association getting that perfect shot in 1995. He spent the weekends with his family at a False River camp as well as belonging to the Catahoula Hunting Club and the National Rifle Association. He also loved to cook, especially jambalaya which he learned from his father. He never forgot where he came from and visited his loving family in Gonzales often. He enjoyed hosting house parties with his wife, Carloyn, for close friends, especially coaches and their wives. Many times, he could be found cooking for the Christian Brothers at their residence on Sundays after church. Linden lived his life as an example for others to follow with discipline, Christian character, and genuine love for those that he was associated with. He was one of a kind and will be deeply missed by his family and many friends. Survivors include his son, Linden Bercegeay III and his wife, Gerilyn Suire Bercegeay of Erath; his two daughters, Tarra Bercegeay and her wife, Monica McCready of Palm Springs, CA and Allyson Bercegeay van Eldik Thieme and her husband, Casper van Eldik Thieme; four grandchildren, Katie Bercegeay, Adam Bercegeay, Thijs van Eldik Thieme and Arielle van Eldik Thieme; sister-in-law, Diane Dupepe Beauregard and husband John Beauregard; nieces, Sharon Ann Hicks, Amy Anderman, Susan Rider, Nanette Johnson, Laura Waguspack, Becky Delaune, Karen Broussard, Valerie Melancon, Beth Troxclair, Gail Miles, Debbie LeBlanc, Kim Jackowski; Angela D'Gerolamo, Joanna D'Gerolamo; nephews, Ryan Waguespack, Larry Waguespack, Jr., Chad Waguespack, Brian Broussard, Ralph Rebowe, Jr., Randy Troxclair, Gregory Troxclair, Lance Troxclair. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Carolyn Marie Dupepe Bercegeay; parents, Linden Joseph Bercegeay, Sr. and his wife, Edith Braud Bercegeay; and sisters, Edna Marie Waguespack and husband, Larry Waguespack; Winona Broussard; Patricia Rebowe and husband, Ralph Rebowe; Joyce Troxclair and husband Ralph Troxclair; Gwedolyn Harris; brother-in-law, Joseph D'Gerolamo; niece, Rachel Rebowe Daigle; nephew, Kyle LeBlanc. Pallbearers will be Jacob Henry Byler, James H. Domengeaux, Gregory Martin Gossen, Mark Aubrey Cole, Lance Jude Troxclair, Casper Van Edik Thieme, Adam Michael Bercegeay, Charles Belsome Long (Honorary). Memorial contributions can be made in Coach Linden J. Bercegeay, Jr.'s name to the Cathedral-Carmel Foundation. A heartfelt appreciation is extended by the Bercegeay family to Dr. Thomas Voitier, Jr., Scott Broussard, Joe Giglio, Ben Domingue, the Staff of Cornerstone Village South, the Staff of Martin and Castille Funeral Home, and Mark Aubrey Cole. View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com. Martin & Castille-Southside-600 E. Farrel Rd., Lafayette, LA 70508, 337-984-2811.