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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, where he was an All-SEC 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. 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, but was released on August 21 of the same year. 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, 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, 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. 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.

References

1. "PC's Perry resigns as coach". Herald-Journal. November 19, 1996. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
2. Swindoll, Gene (June 28, 2005). "Jim Tompkins to Retire". Gene'sPage.com. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
3. "B.C. Lions preview". CBC News. July 5, 2000. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
4. ^ Allspach, Steve (February 1, 2001). "XFL may help football fans forget XXXV". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
5. "TRANSACTIONS". The New York Times. January 26, 2000. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
6. "N.F.L.; TRANSACTIONS". The New York Times. August 22, 2000. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
7. "Transactions". Ellensburg Daily Record. May 24, 2002. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
8. Flynt, Stephanie Bell (October 26, 2006). "Mississippi's Biggest Losers". WLBT-TV. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
9. Hunzinger, Erica (October 3, 2022). "EXPLAINER: Favre, other sports figures in welfare fraud case". Associated Press News. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
10. "What exactly is Gov. Tate Reeves' involvement in the welfare scandal?". Mississippi Today. August 21, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.

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