Tommy Joe Eagles
- July 30, 1994
- 45 years
- heart attack
About Tommy Joe Eagles
Tommy Joe Eagles, 45, American college basketball coach (Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, Auburn Tigers), heart attack.
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Full Biography
|Tommy Joe Eagles (April 3, 1949 – July 30, 1994) was the head basketball coach of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs from 1985 to 1989 and the Auburn Tigers from 1989 to 1994. He was head coach of the University of New Orleans men's basketball team, but died before he ever coached a game there due to a heart attack he suffered during a recruiting trip on July 30, 1994. Before his coaching stint at Louisiana Tech, Eagles served as head coach at Cedar Creek High School in Ruston and Simsboro High School in Simsboro, both in Lincoln Parish.
Each year, Louisiana Tech University presents the Tommy Joe Eagles Award to the member of the Louisiana Tech Men's Basketball team who shows the best all-around combination of work ethic, academic ability, character, and attitude. Past recipients include Brian Martin (2004) and Shawn Oliverson (2010). Auburn University presents the Paul Lambert/Tommy Joe Eagles Memorial Trophy for Leadership, the most prestigious award of the men's basketball program, at the end of each season. Past recipients include Wes Flanigan (1996, 1997) and Daymeon Fishback (2000).
Eagles played basketball and graduated in 1967 from Doyline High School in Doyline, Louisiana, located in Webster Parish, Louisiana. He was one of three children of the late Edward P. and Juanita W. Eagles. His siblings were M. E. "Bo" Eagles, a businessman from Houston, Texas, and Anita E. Darbonne of Minden.
Head coaching record
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Joe_Eagles
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Tommy Joe Eagles's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Tommy Joe Eagles born?
- A.July 30, 1994
- B.April 3, 1949correct
- C.May 12, 1947
- D.April 3, 1952
Tommy Joe Eagles was born on April 3, 1949.
Source: biography introduction
2.From which high school did Tommy Joe Eagles graduate in 1967?
- A.Ruston High School
- B.Simsboro High School
- C.Doyline High Schoolcorrect
- D.Cedar Creek High School
Tommy Joe Eagles played basketball and graduated from Doyline High School in 1967.
Source: early life section
3.Which university's men's basketball team did Tommy Joe Eagles coach from 1985 to 1989?
- A.Louisiana Tech Bulldogscorrect
- B.Simsboro High School
- C.Auburn Tigers
- D.University of New Orleans
Tommy Joe Eagles was the head basketball coach of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs from 1985 to 1989.
Source: coaching career section
4.What was the cause of death for Tommy Joe Eagles?
- A.A heart attackcorrect
- B.A car accident
- C.A stroke
- D.A respiratory infection
Tommy Joe Eagles died due to a heart attack he suffered while on a recruiting trip.
Source: death section
5.In which city is the businessman sibling of Tommy Joe Eagles located?
- A.Ruston
- B.Houstoncorrect
- C.Minden
- D.Doyline
His sibling M. E. Bo Eagles is a businessman from Houston, Texas.
Source: family section
6.Which school did Tommy Joe Eagles serve as head coach for before joining Louisiana Tech?
- A.Cedar Creek High Schoolcorrect
- B.Doyline High School
- C.Auburn University
- D.University of New Orleans
Before his stint at Louisiana Tech, Tommy Joe Eagles served as head coach at Cedar Creek High School.
Source: coaching career section
7.What is the name of the award presented by Auburn University that honors Tommy Joe Eagles?
- A.The Tommy Joe Eagles Award
- B.The Tigers Leadership Prize
- C.The Paul Lambert/Tommy Joe Eagles Memorial Trophy for Leadershipcorrect
- D.The Auburn Basketball Achievement Award
Auburn University presents the Paul Lambert/Tommy Joe Eagles Memorial Trophy for Leadership.
Source: legacy section
8.Who was one of the past recipients of the Tommy Joe Eagles Award from Louisiana Tech?
- A.Brian Martincorrect
- B.Daymeon Fishback
- C.Wes Flanigan
- D.Bo Eagles
Brian Martin was a past recipient of the Tommy Joe Eagles Award in 2004.
Source: legacy section
9.Which of these traits is recognized by the Louisiana Tech Tommy Joe Eagles Award?
- A.Number of assists
- B.Academic abilitycorrect
- C.Defensive prowess
- D.Team captaincy
The award recognizes a combination of work ethic, academic ability, character, and attitude.
Source: legacy section
10.In which year did Daymeon Fishback receive the Paul Lambert/Tommy Joe Eagles Memorial Trophy?
- A.2010
- B.2000correct
- C.1997
- D.1996
Daymeon Fishback was a recipient of the Auburn award in 2000.
Source: legacy section
11.What was the name of Tommy Joe Eagles's sibling who lived in Minden?
- A.Edward P. Eagles
- B.M. E. Bo Eagles
- C.Anita E. Darbonnecorrect
- D.Juanita W. Eagles
His siblings were M. E. Bo Eagles and Anita E. Darbonne of Minden.
Source: family section
12.Where was Doyline High School located geographically?
- A.Webster Parishcorrect
- B.Lincoln Parish
- C.Ruston City
- D.Houston County
Doyline High School is located in Webster Parish, Louisiana.
Source: early life section
13.At which university was Tommy Joe Eagles set to coach before his death?
- A.Auburn University
- B.Louisiana Tech
- C.University of New Orleanscorrect
- D.Doyline University
Tommy Joe Eagles was head coach of the University of New Orleans but died before coaching a game there.
Source: coaching career section
14.Who was one of the parents of Tommy Joe Eagles?
- A.Paul Lambert
- B.Shawn Oliverson
- C.Juanita W. Eaglescorrect
- D.Brian Martin
Tommy Joe Eagles was one of the three children of the late Edward P. and Juanita W. Eagles.
Source: family section
15.When did Tommy Joe Eagles coach the Auburn Tigers?
- A.1967 to 1985
- B.1985 to 1989
- C.1989 to 1994correct
- D.1994 to 1997
Tommy Joe Eagles was the coach of the Auburn Tigers from 1989 to 1994.
Source: coaching career section
16.In which city did Tommy Joe Eagles coach the Cedar Creek High School team?
- A.Minden
- B.Houston
- C.Doyline
- D.Rustoncorrect
Tommy Joe Eagles served as head coach at Cedar Creek High School in Ruston.
Source: coaching career section
People who died on July 30
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