Ruston High School is a four-year public high school located in Lincoln Parish School District of Ruston, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1921, and the current high school was built in 1939 by the PWA near the campus of Louisiana Tech University.
Contents
Background
The 7 acres (2.8 ha) campus of Ruston High School consists of two buildings, which were added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 8, 1992.
The mascot is the Bearcats, with the school colors being red, white, and gray. Black students were first admitted in 1970. Ruston High School also serves as a memorial to the survivors of the Gulf War.
Sport
Athletics
The Ruston Bearcats competes in the LHSAA. The Bearcats compete in the highest classification in Louisiana (5A) and participates in District 2-5A.
The Bearcats play in T.L. James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium, located across the street from Ruston High.
Football championships
(1) National Championship: 1990
(9) State Championships: 1925, 1941, 1947, 1951, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1990, 2023
(6) State Runner-Up: 1944, 1984, 1998, 2022, 2024, 2025
Radio
The school owns a radio station, KBNF-LP (101.3 FM, "Bearcat Radio"), founded in 2014, which broadcasts to the Ruston area with a 80s classic hits format. The broadcast license is held by the Lincoln Parish School Board. Ruston High School is one of two high schools in the state of Louisiana with a student radio program broadcasting to the Ruston area.
Notable alumni
Leon Barmore -- Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball coach 1977–2002.
Kentrell Brice (class of 2013) -- NFL player
Wayne Cage, Former MLB player (Cleveland Indians)
Martie Cordaro (class of 1991) -- (born April 8, 1973 in Ruston, La.) attended Louisiana Tech University. He is current President and minority owner Omaha Storm Chasers, Minor League Baseball Triple-A Kansas City Royals and Union Omaha USL League One pro soccer. Cordaro was the 2013 MiLB Baseball America executive of the year.
Fred Dean—inductee into the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame, played for Louisiana Tech, San Diego Chargers, and San Francisco 49ers
Cade Gibson (Class of 2016) -- MLB pitcher for the Miami Marlins
Andy Hamilton, NFL player
Bert Jones -- NFL Quarterback, nicknamed "the Ruston Rifle", played for LSU earning Heisman Trophy contention and All-America honors for his 1972 season and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016. He was the 1973 NFL 2nd overall draft pick by the Baltimore Colts and later played for the Los Angeles Rams
Michael Brooks (Class of 1982) (born October 2, 1964, in Ruston, Louisiana) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played for Ruston High School, college ball at Louisiana State University (LSU), then professionally with the Denver Broncos, the New York Giants, and the Detroit Lions.
Kyle Williams (Class of 2002) (born June 10, 1983, in Ruston, Louisiana) is a retired American football defensive tackle of the Buffalo Bills in the National Football League. He was drafted in the fifth-round of the 2006 NFL Draft and played his entire 13-year career with the Bills. He served as defensive coordinator for the Bearcats from 2020-2024. He served as the Defensive Line Coach for the LSU Tigers for the 2025 season. He is returning to Ruston High for the 2026 season and will serve as both Assistant Athletics Director and Assistant Head Coach for the Bearcats.