Tulane coach Jon Sumrall begin his Tuesday media session with a heartfelt tribute to former Green Wave strength and conditioning coordinator Kurt Hester, who died from melanoma on Oct. 25 at age 61.

Hester, a Houma native and Tulane graduate who served as the program’s strength and conditioning coordinator in 2022 and 2023, followed coach Willie Fritz to Houston after playing a big role in the Wave’s turnaround from a 2-10 record in 2021 to a 12-2 mark and Cotton Bowl victory against USC the next season. The Wave backed that up by going 8-0 in the American Conference in 2023 before losing to SMU in the league championship game, and Hester was named Football Scoop strength coach of the year.

Current Tulane strength and conditioning coordinator Rusty Whitt, who came with Sumrall from Tro

See Full Page