Louis McKissack's roots run deep in the Poplarville area. He graduated from Savannah High School near Poplarville in 1937 then he went to PRC where he met and married his wife, the former Marie Smith. While at PRC, McKissack played on the basketball and football teams, earning All-American status on the gridiron his sophomore season (1938).

McKissack resumed his collegiate career at Southeast Louisiana University in Hammond for the 1940 and 1941 seasons. He earned Little All-American status at SLU and was later inducted into the college's Sports Hall of Fame.

McKissack entered the coaching ranks as head basketball coach at Morgantown High School in Marion County, remaining there until 1945 when he crossed the county line into Lamar and took over Lumberton football and basketball, staying there until 1950. His stint at LHS was and outstanding one. His 1948 team defeated arch rival Poplarville to win the Region 8/Class BB championship to finish with a perfect 11-0 record. In 1950 he moved to the northern part of Lamar County as basketball and football coach at Sumrall High. In 1952 he moved to Petal High where he remained until 1962. Three of his Petal players went on to NFL careers: Billy Lott, who played with the Washington Redskins; Tommy Walters, who played at PRCC and also played with the Redskins; and Ray Perkins who played with the Baltimore Colts and later coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Giants and served as offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots.  McKissack ended his career coaching the Long Beach High football program from 1962 to 1974.