Leslie C. Price II (Coach/ Rusty) was born on August 25, 1947, to Leslie C. Price and Catherine Long Price in Baton Rouge, LA. He passed away doing what he loved, riding his bicycle on December 30, 2024.
Rusty was a proud 1967 graduate of Broadmoor High School. After high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served in Vietnam where he earned a Purple Heart and the Navy Commendation Medal. After Vietnam, Rusty was assigned to 8th and I, the “Show Boat” of the Corps. He served on many details for the President and was a member of the prestigious Silent Drill team.
After the Marine Corps, Rusty attended Southeastern Louisiana University and was a member of the NAIA National Championship Track and Field team. He cherished his teammates, and was glad to keep in contact with them over the years. Rusty was also an All-American in the Discus and Hammer Throw, and he is a member of the SLU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Upon graduation, Rusty went to work in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System at Broadmoor High School. There he spent the next 45 years as a teacher, coach, and Athletic Director at his Alma Mater. His influence was not only in the classroom teaching science, but on the swimming, basketball, weightlifting, and cross country, track and field teams, as well as football. When asked about his fondest memories, he always talked about how much he enjoyed the time with the other coaches and teaching athletes. He was blessed to work with some of the best coaches in Baton Rouge, and they became his extended family. The Broadmoor football teams in his day were always low in numbers but they were tough as nails.
In his retirement, Rusty enjoyed spending time with his dogs, his “breakfast” friends, particularly those at The Warehouse, spending time at his camp, and riding his bike through the streets of Baton Rouge.
Rusty is survived by his wife Marline Mire Price, daughter Amber Brown (Bobby), son Cole Price (Holly), grandchildren Elijah, Jonah, and Mia Grace Brown, Mayes Price, and unborn baby girl Price. He leaves behind a sister and brother-in-law, Letty and Bill Strawbridge, sister-in-law Phyllis Schledt (David), mother-in-law Peggy Mire, nieces Ashley Langford (Mike) and Christine Sexton (David) and nephews D’Wayne Strawbridge (Cathryne) and Darren Schledt.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Rusty Price Stadium (Broadmoor High School, 10100 Goodwood Boulevard) on Saturday, January 4, 2024, from 1-3 pm. The suggested attire is athletic wear, as Coach Price would have wanted. Please feel free to wear Broadmoor gear or jerseys.
Donations may be made to Tunnels to Towers or your favorite charity.
5 comments
Mark Dobbins
January 4, 2025 at 2:25 am
Very few people impact as many people as Rusty in the way that he did. And very few matched the dedication to a single school that he and Marline invested in Broadmoor HS.
He coached our Cross Country and Track teams in his first coaching/teaching term in 1975. He was assigned to coach or assistant coach 9 different teams that year while teaching classes as well. Unheard of work load today, yet he relished it all.
Rusty was amazing in his skills and competitiveness. There was nothing he couldn’t beat you at. Basketball, swimming, tennis, cards, etc… He would forever find a way to improve, find an edge, and to win. You always him by your side. And their Denbo home was always open to anyone he coached; the Prices truly lived it.
So grateful for the influence that Rusty had on my life, that of my brothers and our teammates. He left it all on the field.
John Fereday
January 3, 2025 at 6:21 pm
As a member of the ’75 Broadmoor JV Basketball team, Coach Price’s official return to his High School Alma Mater as teacher and athletic department, you definitely knew you were being ‘coached’.. And if you were playing against us, you knew you were being ‘out coached’… He commanded respect and also expected his team members to show up early Saturday morning to run the hills in Highland Road Park, because he recalled the coaches in his day expected the same. Coach Price was definately one of a kind and enjoyed what he was doing. And it materialized via substantially improved athletic performance of individuals, collectively contributing to successful teams.
Leonard Sparks
January 1, 2025 at 2:24 am
I don’t even know where to start but I will say from the first day we met I had no idea that you would have an everlasting affect on my life! I can honestly say Coach you helped me to become a better man especially mentally I’m so glad that God allowed us to cross paths! They say life is about experiences I’m just glad that I was able to understand the lessons you were trying to install upon me! Thank you for sharing your playbook of life with me! Love you Coach Price 🖤🙏🏿
Jeannette Nodier Horan
January 1, 2025 at 12:55 am
I’m very sorry for your loss. Coach Price was a bigger than life human!
Coach Price changed my life! He got me involved in running (1979/1980 Cross Country Team and track) which became a life long passion. He ran with me the first time I ran 5 miles and sang the little engine that could the entire way. :~)
I live in CA so won’t be able to attend his memorial. However, if you are collecting memories – I’d love to send more memories of Coach Price from that era. I actually had his name on a list of people I wanted to write to that had made a positive impact on my life. I certainly wish I would have written that letter.
Will keep Coach Price and you – his family, in my prayers. I’ll never forget him.
RIP- Jeannette Nodier Horan
James & Krista Corwin
December 31, 2024 at 4:58 pm
Praying for your sweet family to always be surrounded by the happiest memories of Coach Price.