Glenn Cecchini reached a milestone that few ever accomplish.

The longtime Barbe High head baseball coach won his 1,000th career game Thursday, a 14-2 win over Acadiana, he just didn’t know it.

Cecchini was honored Saturday before the Bucs’ District 3-5A game against Comeaux with many former players on hand.

“The funny thing is I had no idea,” Cecchini said. “Every year they ask for your coaching records.

“I knew I had 900-something wins here. I still don’t know what game it happened. I share it with all my coaches and players. It was really a special day that we could all share in. I was really taken aback by it. It was a complete surprise. The community has been great to us. We have so much support.”

In his 36th season as head coach, Cecchini has an .825 winning percentage (1,001-211-1), 11 state championships, three national championships and 25 district championships. He was inducted into the Louisiana High School Hall of Fame in 2019 and has won six Class 5A Coach of the Year awards, two national coach of the year honors and coached numerous players who have gone on to play at the college and professional levels, including his sons Garin and Gavin.

“It is not just the wins and the championships,” Cecchini said. “I love my players and they play hard.

“The most important thing is that they grow up and become successful men, husbands, fathers. Our big thing is empowering champions in life through baseball with teamwork, accountability and love. Love is Jesus.”

Cecchini credits his wife Raissa, a highly respected coach in her own right, with helping build the Bucs into a powerhouse.

“There has never been a wife that has done more for her husband than my wife Raissa,” Cecchini said. “She coaches with us and has been with me every step of the way.

“I am just so grateful for her. She gave up her career — she was a much better athlete than me — to build one together. She was a head basketball coach at Barbe and Bell City. She could have done great things if she had pursued her own (career), but we built something together here.”

Cecchini said he can’t take credit for his boundless energy that never seems to wain.

“I used to take credit for my energy, but I realize that God gave me the energy,” Cecchini said. “It is a gift, and I just have to use it.

“My goal is to become the best version of myself, and I have a long way to go. God has blessed me with energy. My dad is 92, and he is in better shape than me.”

The Bucs (27-2, 7-2) gave Cecchini win No. 1,001 on Saturday. Comeaux (20-7, 3-6, coached by one of Cecchini’s former players Jeremy Broussard, nearly spoiled the day, but Donnie Sandifer hit a walk-off two-run home run in the ninth inning to lift the Bucs to a 3-1 win.