Ossie Blaize, a renowned former Louisiana football and track and field head coach and longtime educator, passed away on Monday, May 5, 2025, leaving his family, friends, and loved ones devastated.
While the information regarding the actual cause and manner of the untimely death of Ossie Blaize is not available, according to reports, he was battling heart disease for twenty years.
Moreover, Ossie Blaize, who spent over five decades of his life serving as an exceptional coach and educator, decided to retire in 2022 following his knee and heart issues.
In an interview in 2022, the late Ossie Blaize stated:
“I started in 1970, so it’s been a long time. Sooner or later, your body and your mind say, It’s enough, I can still do pretty much what I’ve always done, I just can’t do it as long, and I’ve got this little voice in the back of my head that says, Okay, time out, you’ve got to learn to listen to that voice.”
VermillionToday
The late Ossie Blaize, who began his teaching and coaching career in 1970, spent his final 23 years serving as an educator in Vermilipon Parish.
Moreover, he coached nearly half of his career in Abbeville, serving as a head football and track and field coach at Vermilion Catholic for 16 years from 1991-2001 and 2015-22, as well as from 2008-15 at Abbeville High.
Similarly, the whole Abbeville community is mourning the death of their beloved educator and coach, Ossie Blaize, and sending their heartfelt condolences to his family.
Vermilion Catholic Football team took to their official social media to express their sorrow on losing their former coach and wrote:
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Coach Travis and the Blaize Family, along with all of those people, both young and old, and the multiple generations of athletes and friends who mourn the loss of Coach Ossie… his mark has been undeniably left on the Vermilion Catholic Football Program and the Vermilion Catholic Community. Fly High Coach.”
Vermillion Catholic Football
Another added:
“He was a great husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, mentor, friend, and all that knew him would certainly agree! Fly high my friend! No doubt I know you are having conversations with Jesus about fishing!”
Lorrie Ardoin
Ossie Blaize Leaves Behind His Longtime Wife Debbie And Family
The late high school coach Ossie Blaize is survived by his longtime wife of 27 years, Debbie Blaize.
The couple tied the knot in February 1997.
Debbie Blaize is currently mourning the loss of her beloved husband, Ossie Blaize. While she has remained relatively quiet in recent times, she continues to share heartfelt photos of him on social media, often expressing her deep love and pride.
Moreover, together the couple raised their sons, Travis and Remy Blaize, and stepsons to be successful in their respective fields.
Travis Blaize, Ossie and Debbie’s elder son, took to social media to express his sorrow and pay tribute to his father.
He wrote:
“I could write books on the impact this man had on me alone. By the countless calls and texts today it appears in his 53 years as an educator he impacted a lot of lives. My heart is saddened not for Ossie but for the world around him that lost such a wonderful man.My dad never sugarcoated anything, told you like it is whether you asked for it or not, and came from a generation of toughness that can’t be taught. But as tough and as hard as he was he always loved twice as hard.”
Travis Blaize
Furthermore, Travis Blaize followed in his father Ossie’s footsteps in sports and currently serves as the head football coach, physical education, and emergency medical response at Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy High School.
Prior to that, he served as the football coach of Westminster Christian Academy for two years.
Born on October 18, 1988, Andrew Travis Blaize also showcased his amazing football and sprinting skills playing at Catholic High School and later at the University of Louisiana for Ragin’ Cajuns.
Talking about their other son, Remy Blaize, he has been serving as a senior media manager of Performics in Chicago, Illinois, for over three years.
After earning his Bachelor of Arts with a major in Literature from Southeastern Louisiana University, Remy began his career as a marketing intern at BlinkJar Media.
He further worked as a search specialist at Potenza Inc. and Digital Marketing Director at Burning Stick Creative.
Very little information is available about Ossie’s stepsons, Jody Dubois, Evan, Alex, and Cody, as they prefer to maintain a low profile.
In addition to his wife and kids, left to cherish the life of Ossie Blaize are his several grandchildren, daughter-in-laws, and the whole family.
His family has scheduled his funeral arrangements for next week, however, the details and date about his memorial and funeral service are yet to be provided.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- The late Ossie Blaize coached at several schools in Mississippi, New Orleans, and Southwest Louisiana.
- He was famous for leading his team to victory over the St. Augustine Purple Knights.
