Bobby Earl Keasler

Bobby Earl Keasler, 80, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on September 8, 1945, in Columbus to Luther Enoch Keasler and Essie Mae Earline Harrell Bourque.

Bobby began his stellar career in athletics at New Iberia High School where he was an outstanding three sport athlete. He was All-District in football, basketball and track. He was also All-State in track. In track, he held the state record in the 800 for many years. He was so happy that when his record was eventually broken, it was by one of his football players. In his senior year, at the state meet, Bobby was a Grand Champion winner because he won gold in both the 800 and the mile. He was offered scholarships in both football and track. Actually, he was offered full track scholarships at six different universities. He opted to accept the offer by legendary track Coach Bob Groseclose and run track for NLU(UL-M.) While there he was outstanding in cross country, the 800 and the mile.

He began his coaching career at Anderson Street Junior High in New Iberia, but quickly rose to the high school level at New Iberia Senior High School. He eventually became the head football coach. In his two years as the head coach, he lead the Yellow Jackets to two undefeated regular seasons. The Yellow Jackets were in the play-offs both years and reached the state championship game in 1979. He was district Coach of the Year in 1979 and1980. In 1979 he was also Louisiana State Coach of the year for football.

Following has success at NISH, he was asked by Coach Pat Colins to join his staff at is alma mater NLU. Under Coach Collins, the Indians enjoyed much success on the football field. In 1987, when Bobby was defensive coordinator, the Indians won the 1AA National Championship.

Then in 1989, Bobby became the Head Football Coach at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La.

A native of New Iberia, Keasler was named head coach for McNeese prior to the 1990 season and in his nine-year career, he became McNeese's winningest all-time football coach, a mark that stood until 2025, while his teams won four Southland Conference championships (1991, 1993, 1995, 1997) and participated in the NCAA FCS playoffs a total of seven times.

His 1995 team went undefeated in the regular season and was ranked No. 1 in the nation for the entire regular season and dropped its only game in the FCS semifinals to Marshall. His 1997 team ran off a 13-2 overall mark and 6-1 league record on the way to the NCAA FCS national championship, a narrow 10-9 loss to Youngstown State. He compiled a 78-34-2 overall record and a 43-13-2 league mark during his tenure at McNeese.

Keasler earned conference coach of the year honors in 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997 and is still the only coach in Southland Conference history to garner the award five times. In addition, he was named the Louisiana coach of the year three times.

He coached 53 first-team All-Southland players and 16 first-team All-Americans as well as seven Southland Players of the Year and four Southland Freshmen of the Year. He compiled an 8-7 record in the FCS playoffs, and in four of his nine seasons as head coach, the Cowboys won 10 or more games. His teams averaged 8.7 wins per season.

Keasler was a 2006 McNeese Hall of Fame Inductee and was enshrined into the Southland Conference Hall of Honor in 2014. In 2013 he was honored by the league as the Southland Conference 1990s Coach of the Decade.

He concluded his coaching career after a three-year run as head coach at Louisiana-Monroe before returning to Lake Charles to retire.

Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 58 and a half years, Linda Marie Barras Keasler; daughter, Angie Keasler Quinn and husband Dave Jr.; grandchildren, Haley Michelle Keasler, Kaylin Quinn Landry and husband Ryan, Trey Quinn and wife Savannah, Ashlyn C. Keasler, Carter James Quinn, Gunnar Keasler, and Landry Keasler; great-grandchildren, Easton Keasler, Collins Quinn Landry, Carson William Landry, and David Lee Quinn, IV "Ivey"; sister, Gloria Keasler Bonin and husband Ronald "Boo"; brother, Dewayne Bourque and wife Nancy; cousins, Charlotte Pennington Smith and husband Rick, and Paula Pennington Courtney and husband Tom; along with numerous loving nieces and nephews.

Bobby was preceded in death by his father, mother, and stepfather, Fred Bourque; and his son, Scot Keasler.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Patrick Williamson Memorial Foundation. P.O. Box 454 Broussard, LA 70518 or on their website.