Joseph ‘Chance’ LaFour
Giant Alumnus of the Month
Our Giant Alumnus of the Month for January 2026 is Coach Chance LaFour, graduate of Ross S. Sterling High School.
Chance earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston main campus and later completed his master’s degree at Lamar University, building a strong academic foundation to support his work as an educator and coach.
Chance began his career at Gentry Junior High before returning to his alma mater, Sterling High School, where he taught and coached. He now serves as the head boys basketball coach, teacher, and Special Education department co-chair at Robert E. Lee High School. His leadership and dedication to the game have been widely recognized, including being named the 2025 SETC Coaches Association All-Star Head Coach and a finalist for the 2019 TABC Assistant Coach of the Year.
Born and raised in Baytown, Chance attended Goose Creek schools from start to finish and has always felt a deep connection to the community that shaped him. After leading the Pasadena Eagles basketball team to a bi-district championship, he felt called to return home and accepted the head boys basketball coaching position at Lee High School in 2021. Since then, he has focused on building not only a competitive program, but one rooted in service and character.
Under his leadership, the Lee High School basketball team actively gives back through food and backpack drives, local street clean-ups, and by supporting elementary campuses through car rider lines and school events. Chance is a familiar and supportive presence across campus, and while he may be a Sterling graduate, his Gander Pride now runs deep. His love for his school, his colleagues, and the Baytown community is evident in everything he does.
Chance’s passion for education, service, and giving back to the district that built him continues to inspire students and staff alike, making a lasting impact well beyond the basketball court.
Thank you to Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital for sponsoring this award.