As is usually the case with Salpointe Catholic High School in its 68 years with a football program, the Lancers have hired from within to replace 19-year coach Dennis Bene.
Todd Schulte, who graduated from Tombstone High School but has been at Salpointe the last 21 years in various roles, was announced the Lancers’ new head coach Friday. In the last seven years, he has served as the freshman and junior varsity head coach for the Lancers.
“I am thrilled to lead Salpointe’s football program,” Schulte said. “The foundation that has been set before me is tremendous. I look forward to guiding the program into the future and maintaining the Lancer tradition.”
Of the 13 head coaches that Salpointe has hired, six of the last nine were affiliated with the Lancers beforehand. Here is the list of Salpointe’s head football coaches with background information from before they led the Lancers’ program:
Salpointe Head Football Coaches
| Year(s) | Coach | Record | Prior |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Todd Schulte | 0-0 | Salpointe freshman/JV coach |
| 2001-2019 | Dennis Bene | 184-44 | Salpointe alum |
| 1986-2000 | Pat Welchert | 89-71-1 | Salpointe alum |
| 1983-1985 | Steve Sorce | 13-17 | Suffolk Hills coach |
| 1977-1982 | Ed Doherty | 47-21-3 | Former UA/ASU head coach |
| 1976 | Mike Slovick | 3-6 | JV coach from Illinois |
| 1973-1975 | Bill Tripp | 21-8-1 | Salpointe assistant |
| 1969-1972 | Jerry Davitch | 28-13 | Salpointe assistant |
| 1966-1968 | Ed Lucz | 17-15 | Salpointe assistant |
| 1958-1965 | Gene McCarter | 45-29-1 | UA assistant freshman coach |
| 1957 | Lou Ferry | 1-7-1 | Pittsburgh Steelers lineman |
| 1955-1956 | Don Huml | 9-8 | Notre Dame lineman |
| 1954 | Raul Mariscal | 5-4 | Fort Grant Industrial School coach |
| 1952-1953 | Larry Baroldy | 6-11 | NAU basketball player |
Schulte has a winning tradition to uphold with the Lancers, especially following Bene, one of the most successful coaches in Tucson high school history.
The Lancers enter their 69th year next season with an overall record of 468-254-7. The last two coaches — Bene and Pat Welchert — won 273 of those games over 34 seasons with Bene capturing a state title in 2013 and Welchert taking the Lancers to the state championship game in 1991.
Former Salpointe assistant Jay Dobyns, recently named the head coach at Tanque Verde High School, posted on social media of Schulte’s hire: “Big Congrats to my friend Todd Schulte in being named the new head football coach at Salpointe. None better. All SC fans, players, parents and alums can expect the greatness to continue. Coach has been an incredible coaching mentor to me. I’m grateful for, and proud of him.”
Schulte inherits a program that lost a significant senior class of 27 players that included the likes of running back Bijan Robinson, safety Lathan Ransom, receiver Dae han Chang, offensive lineman Bruno Fina, tight end Connor Witthoft, defensive end Luke Regina, linebacker Trent Strong and cornerback Charlie Raetzman, to name a few.
He does have returning from the 10-1 team that went to the Open Division semifinals quarterback Treyson Bourguet, running back David Cordero and offensive lineman Jonah Miller.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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