AUSTIN, Texas — Westlake High School has its new head football coach, starting a new era after Todd Dodge announced his retirement prior to the 2021 season.
Eanes ISD Superintendent Dr. Tom Leonard named longtime defensive coordinator Tony Salazar as the Chaps' new leader.
A formal announcement was scheduled at noon from Westlake High School’s recital hall.
Salazar told KVUE's media partners with the Austin American-Statesman that he's had offers from other schools to leave Westlake and become a head coach somewhere else, but "something always kept me here."
Before coming to Westlake in 2014, Salazar coached at Mary Hardin-Baylor from 2004 to 2006, at Dripping Springs from 2007 to 2008, at Leander from 2009 to 2012 and with Marble Falls in 2013.
Salazar will have some big shoes to fill, taking over a program that has won three consecutive state championships from 2019 to 2021. Dodge was recently named the NHSCA's national coach of the year after 2021's 16-0 season.
Dodge is a three-time National High School Coach of the Year, five-time State High School Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Texas High School Hall of Fame in 2006. After last season, he has also won seven state championships.
Before his time at Westlake, Dodge coached at Southlake Carroll High School. From 2002 to 2006, he went 79-1 with five consecutive 5A State Championship appearances – winning the State championship four times during that run.
Dodge told the Statesman that Salazar was the perfect man to replace him has the Chaps' head coach, adding that the program will continue to win under Salazar.
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