:Paul Lacoste (Canadian football)
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1974)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox gridiron football person
| name = Paul Lacoste
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|9|3}}
| birth_place = Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| number = #58 (CFL), #52 (XFL)
| import = yes
| position1 = Linebacker
| height_ft =
| height_in =
| weight_lb =
| college = Mississippi State
| high_school = Jackson
| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|1998}}–{{CFL Year|2000}}
| playing_team1 = B.C Lions
| playing_years2 = 2001
| playing_team2 = Memphis Maniax
| playing_years3 = {{AMS season|2003}}
| playing_team3 = Amsterdam Admirals
| career_highlights =
| CFLAllStar = {{CFL Year|1999}}
| CFLWestAllStar = {{CFL Year|1999}}
| awards = 1999 Jackie Parker Trophy
1999 CFL Rookie of the Year
| honors = 1994 & 1996 Academic All-SEC
1996 SEC Good Works Team
1996 1st Team All-SEC
1996 2nd Team All-America
}}
Paul Victor Lacoste (born September 3, 1974, Jackson, Mississippi) was a linebacker in the Southeastern Conference at Mississippi State University and in the Canadian Football League.
Paul featured on the Mississippi episode of Irish network TG4's television travel series "Hector - Ó Chósta go Cósta" speaking positively in support of the benefits of exercise and fitness for Mississippians at the Paul Lacoste gym.
Early years
Lacoste played his high school football at Jackson Prep and went on to enjoy an outstanding college career at Mississippi State University,{{cite news|title=PC's Perry resigns as coach|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uy8jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e88EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4831,4596151&dq=paul+lacoste+all-america&hl=en|access-date=January 2, 2011|newspaper=Herald-Journal|date=November 19, 1996}} where he was an All-SEC{{cite web|last=Swindoll|first=Gene|title=Jim Tompkins to Retire|url=http://mississippistate.scout.com/2/391386.html|publisher=Gene'sPage.com|access-date=January 2, 2011|date=June 28, 2005}} and All-America selection in 1996.
Professional career
He signed with the B.C. Lions of the CFL in 1998, making his professional debut with the team in 1999. He finished the 1999 season second on the team with 78 tackles, earning him the 1999 CFL Rookie of the Year Award.{{cite web|title=B.C. Lions preview|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/b-c-lions-preview-1.209420|publisher=CBC News|access-date=January 2, 2011|date=July 5, 2000}}{{cite news|last=Allspach|first=Steve|title=XFL may help football fans forget XXXV |url=http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/uncategorized/article_dc2b53b2-8e6e-510a-924b-5513cafb6cbb.html|access-date=January 2, 2011|newspaper=Sioux City Journal|date=February 1, 2001}} He had a late start to the 2000 season, after a National Football League tryout, and was later cut by British Columbia.
In 2000, he was signed by the NFL's Indianapolis Colts on January 25,{{cite news|title=TRANSACTIONS|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50A13F93F580C758EDDA80894D8404482|access-date=January 2, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 26, 2000}} but was released on August 21 of the same year.{{cite news|title=N.F.L.; TRANSACTIONS|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F6081FFA3D550C718EDDA10894D8404482|access-date=January 2, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 22, 2000}} In 2001, Lacoste joined the XFL's Memphis Maniax, where he made four tackles. In 2002, he signed with the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League on May 23,{{cite news|title=Transactions|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GjwfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BNEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5139,1931905&dq=paul+lacoste+dallas+desperados&hl=en|access-date=January 2, 2011|newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record|date=May 24, 2002}} but was cut the very next day. In 2003, the Colts allocated Lacoste to NFL Europe; he was to play for the Amsterdam Admirals but he was cut at the end of training camp.
After football
Currently, he is the owner and head trainer of Next Level Sports,{{cite web|last=Flynt|first=Stephanie Bell|title=Mississippi's Biggest Losers|url=http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=5593534&nav=2CSf|publisher=WLBT-TV|access-date=January 2, 2011|date=October 26, 2006}} a speed training specialist firm based in his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. Lacoste has a Master of Science in Sports Administration from Mississippi State University.
He would later be implicated for having a role in the Mississippi welfare funds scandal.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/nfl-entertainment-sports-mississippi-philanthropy-bc076951df280ca9ef4f623b84cf0d4d|first=Erica|last=Hunzinger|title=EXPLAINER: Favre, other sports figures in welfare fraud case |work=Associated Press News|date=October 3, 2022|accessdate=October 19, 2022}} He was acknowledged to have received a $1.4 million contract for a fitness boot camp program through state welfare funds and personally received $1.3 million of this welfare money.{{cite news|url=https://mississippitoday.org/2023/08/21/tate-reeves-welfare-scandal-involvement/|title=What exactly is Gov. Tate Reeves’ involvement in the welfare scandal?|publisher=Mississippi Today|date=August 21, 2023|accessdate=November 7, 2023}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{CFL MORs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lacoste, Paul}}
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Canadian Football League Rookie of the Year Award winners
Category:Canadian football linebackers
Category:Memphis Maniax players
Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs football players
Category:Players of American football from Jackson, Mississippi
Category:Players of Canadian football from Jackson, Mississippi
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
{{Canadianfootball-linebacker-stub}}
{{linebacker-1970s-stub}}