With a record of 180 wins and 79 losses, Xavier Coach Duane Schulte is placed on the “50 greatest Iowa high school football coaches of all time”  list by The Des Moines Register.

“He teaches us more than just football. I know that he works really hard for us, and I feel that I should do the same,” senior Isaac Ball said.

The Des Moines Register placed Schulte on this list because “Schulte has built a program that has frequently made big accomplishments, including a Class 4A state title in 2006 and a 3A title last fall. His first trip to the playoffs came in 1996 at Cedar Rapids LaSalle.”

Schulte has  countless number of accomplishments and his players offer him nothing but praise.

“I respect him because of all of the success he has had. He knows how to get teams to work together and to get the good out of everyone,” Ball said.

Schulte was notified of this recognition in early October.

Schulte says he would not be on that list if it was not for the support of many people over the last 25 years. This includes all of the players at Xavier and LaSalle, as well as the assistant coaches.

“My high school coach, Tom Kopatich, has been, and continues, to be an outstanding mentor for me,” Schulte said. “Personally, without the support of my family, especially my wife Sherry, this would not be possible.”

Other coaches are on the same list as Schulte and have been role models for him throughout his career. To him, being mentioned with them is unbelievable.

Schulte was named Coach of the Year by the IFCA, Iowa Football Coaches Association, in 2013 for the class of 4A and again by The Gazette and The Des Moines Register in 2017. He was honored for this accomplishment from The Des Moines Register, in June of 2018 at the All-Iowa Sports Awards.

The Saints record is 9-0 and their next appearance will be on Friday, October 26 at 7 p.m. at the Xavier field. Their opponent is the Pella Dutch.