Under Bob Ladouceur, the football records at De La Salle High School in Concord look made up or misprinted. In 34 seasons, his Spartans won 399 games, the most in California history, lost 25 and tied three for a winning percentage of 93.4%, the highest among any prep coach in the country. His teams captured more North Coast Section Titles (28) than lost games from 1979 to 2012. The Spartan’s national record 151 game win streak from 1992 to 2004 more than doubled the previous mark of 72. They outscored foes by an average score of 49 to 9 during that streak. They won 10 National Titles, five CIF State Bowl Games and over his 21 seasons they didn’t lose to a Northern California team in a span of 236 games. Ladouceur’s legacy runs much deeper than wins, championships and streaks. Beyond superb play calling and a keen attention to detail, the San Ramon Valley/Danville High School and San Jose football standout, tapped into teenager’s inner strength and fearlessness by creating a brotherhood. He taught kids to be accountable to one another and selfless for a greater cause. One of his top players, Patrick Walsh, now a high school coach at Serra in San Mateo, said: “I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that he is the greatest high school coach ever in the state, if not the nation. I think considering who he is and what he’s accomplished, Bob Ladouceur has to be mentioned in the same conversation with John Wooden and what he did for college football”.

Inducted into the BAY AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME – 2014

Narrative by Mitch Stephens