Before his passing in 2018, Coach Mailliard (Denny) served St. Margaret Mary Parish and it's student-athletes for 47 years (1971-2018). Head football and basketball coach for all 47 years at SMM, Coach Mailliard also served as head baseball and track coach for many of those same years. He also served as SMM Parish Athletic Director. Coach Mailliard impacted the lives of students, parents, and teachers as a friend and mentor dedicated to the ideal of elevating SMM Athletics to a standard of excellence that was respected by all those who played a part in it or who competed against it. His contributions will be remembered.
In honor of Coach Mailliard's passion for SMM Athletics, a scholarship has been established in his name to be awarded to a graduating 8th grader who most exhibits the characteristics of a student-athlete which were strongly emphasized by Coach to all those he affected during his career:
- Devotion to SMM Athletics
- Strong practice ethic
- Dedication to the improvement of the team and teammates
- Acceptance of coaching and the challenge of self-improvement
- Strong character and sportsmanship
The scholarship will be awarded annually to an SMM 8th grader (male or female) who best represents the characteristics Coach Mailliard found so important in their development as an athlete advancing into high school.
Given Coach Mailliard's long devotion to parochial education, the scholarship will be limited to those athletes choosing to further their education in a Catholic High School. The scholarship will be set at $2,000.00 to be paid directly to the Catholic institution where the winner chooses to enroll.
The Coach Mailliard Scholarship will be awarded annually at the discretion of the SMM Athletic Committee in consultation with the parish, school, and the Mailliard family.
- 2019 Winner: Congratulations to Justice Mayfield!
- 2020 Winner: Congratulations to Will Hall!
- 2021 Winner: Congratulations to Quinn Peterson!