A Relationship That Shaped De La Salle

Maybe the most significant relationship in our school’s 60-year history was the one between Bob Ladouceur and Ken Hofmann; a relationship that began, fittingly, after a Spartan loss. In 1987, De La Salle lost to Monte Vista in the NCS 3A Championship game, ending the Spartans’ 44-game winning streak. While it marked the close of one remarkable chapter, it quietly opened the door to something even more lasting.

Following that season, an event to honor the extraordinary run of Spartan football in the mid-1980s was proposed. Four months later, NFL Hall of Famer Y.A. Tittle delivered the keynote at the inaugural Spartan Salute at the Concord Sheraton. It was there that Coach Ladouceur and Ken Hofmann first met. It was a moment that sparked not only a deep and enduring friendship but also a tradition of football banquets that continues to this day.

Through reflections from Coach Ladouceur and former Dean of Students Joe Aliotti, this story highlights how Ken’s belief in De La Salle, its mission, and the role of athletics in forming young men led to a legacy of extraordinary generosity. Ken championed Spartan football and supported athletics as a whole, while also helping to raise and personally contribute funds to transformational projects, including the STREAM Building, the Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center, and the Ken Hofmann Student Center.

De La Salle would not be the same school it is today without Ken Hofmann’s vision, influence, and unwavering commitment. His relationship with Coach Ladouceur reminds us that the strongest foundations are built not only through success on the field but through relationships grounded in trust, gratitude, and a shared belief in something bigger than themselves.