FAIRHOPE, Ala. – Mark Lasseter, former Childersburg Tigers head football coach, collapsed Monday afternoon at Bayside Academy from an apparent heart attack.
Lasseter has been an assistant coach at Bayside Academy in Fairhope for the last six years. Bayside head football coach and athletic director Phil Lazenby performed CPR on Lasseter.
“Yesterday was a tough day,” said Lazenby. “[I] found that he was unresponsive on the floor [in the gym.] We proceeded with CPR and a few minutes later another coach arrived.” Lazenby said with quick thinking from a P.E. teacher and the athletic trainer, they grabbed the AED (automatic external defibrillator). “We got it hooked up and ready to go. We continued CPR for about 20 minutes. We got a little bit of breath from him. It was a bit of hope. He was breathing erratically and didn’t have much of a pulse but he had one,” said Lazenby.
Emergency personnel arrived on the scene shortly after and took over.
“I think it was a great effort from all the people that were there,” said Lazenby.
Lasseter was transported to Thomas Hospital in Fairhope where he was placed in a medically induced coma.
“He’s in the hospital now. They are going to wake him up this evening. We are all anxious about that,” said Lazenby.
Lazenby said he would not have been alerted by an administrator about Lasseter’s condition if it was not for two third graders.
“The real heroes were two little third graders were in [Lasseter’s] P.E. class. They ran and got the first teacher they found, a lady in our administration. I happened to be walking by loading up some footballs and cooler for practice. She motioned to me and told me to call 911 and there was an emergency,” said Lazenby.
Lasseter is one of the co-hosts on the Prep Sports Report (PSR) originating out of Mobile every Saturday morning, airing locally on Yea!106.5 & WYEA!1290 in Sylacauga. His co-hosts, coach and Sylacauga native Rick Cleveland and coach Corey LaBounty, were shocked and saddened.
“Coach Mark Lasseter…he’s 1/3 of the Prep Sports Report,” said LaBounty. “He’s given back to so many kids in so many years and had a tremounds impact on so many lives. It’s so evident in the outpouring of love and support that has been shown at Bayside Academy.” LaBounty asked for continued prayers and support for Lasseter, his wife Michelle, and his children.
“Mark Lasseter is one of the finest men that has ever walked the sidelines in the state of Alabama,” said Cleveland. “He’s enourmously respected. He’s the former president of the Alabama High School Football Coaches Association. He’s been the head coach at numerous locations. He is one of my dearest friends. He’s a guy who has made a difference in thousands of young peoples lives during his coaching and teaching career. He’s just a big teddy bear, that’s what he is. He’s a guy with a huge heart. He’s got a heart for God.”
Cleveland said Lasseter has impacted thousands of lives through the radio ministry on PSR since he joined the team six years ago.
“I can’t tell you the magnitude of people that have responded to the opportunity that mark has presented us at this time. He’s a part of who we are and what we do each and every day. All the people in my home community need to pray for him and Michelle,” said Cleveland.
As a head coach, Lasseter had a 13-year, 86-63 record, most recently spending eight years at Fairhope, two years at Alma Bryant, one year at Hamilton, and two years at Childersburg.
Michael Brannon for SylacaugaNews.com © 2017, SylacaugaNews.com/Marble City Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.