Parker University Coach of the Year: La Marque's Kevin Wilcox on an 80-5 Run

Eighty wins in two seasons. That's the standard Kevin Wilcox has set at La Marque, and it's why the Cougars' head coach is the HOU Inside High School Sports Parker University Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.

Wilcox, a 1995 La Marque graduate, returned to his alma mater in 2017 and has steadily built the program into one of the most consistent in the Houston area. Over the past two seasons, La Marque has gone a combined 80-5, capped by a 41-2 campaign this past year that included a 20-game winning streak and a run to the second state final in school history.

Part of what made this season's start tricky was roster timing. Several of Wilcox's key players were still finishing their football season, leaving the basketball team shorthanded early. But La Marque navigated that stretch without a loss, and Wilcox said that's when he knew the ceiling was high. "We got through that dry spell. Actually, we're still undefeated," he said. "I knew at that point in time we had a good chance of doing that."

The connection between Wilcox and La Marque runs deeper than wins and losses. Born and raised in the community, he's a daily presence in the city even beyond the court. In 2022, the city formally recognized that bond by declaring Kevin Wilcox Day. Now part of Texas City ISD, La Marque's program reflects the identity of a tight-knit community that has rallied around its coach. "The influence this community had on me is partially the reason the man I am today," Wilcox said.

With a program trending toward a third state final appearance and a roster that returns experience, La Marque figures to remain a name worth watching when the 2026-27 season tips off.