Coach Bob Ladouceur

In 1979, a young man in his mid-20's joined the De La Salle faculty as a religion teacher and as the head football coach of an emerging program.  Over the next 40 years, That man, Bob Ladouceur, set about his work of leading and guiding young men both in the classroom and on the football field.

There have been a number of individuals who have helped shape the school and the young men that have graduated from De La Salle, but there is no individual that has been more influential than Bob Ladouceur. While his accolades on the football field are historic, his efforts as an educator of young men are even more impactful. Thousands of Spartans have walked the halls of campus, and the effect that Coach Ladouceur has had on so many of them will be felt for years to come. This tribute to Coach Ladouceur is a small way of recognizing his legacy and thanking him for the immeasurable impact he has had in our community, on our campus, and in the lives of so many men.

Coach Ladouceur's message of love and responsibility is reflected in his mantra, "We're not asking you to play a perfect game. That's impossible. What we're asking of you -- and what you should be asking of yourself -- is that you give a perfect effort."  That mantra is carried forth through The Perfect Effort in support of the Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center.

Quick Bio

• 39 years in the classroom
• 33 years as the head football coach
• 399-25-3 Lifetime Record
• 11 National Championships
• 13 players in the NFL

From Our President

In the 52-year history of De La Salle High School, there have been many extraordinary athletic accomplishments, including League, Section, Northern California, State and National Championships and, of course, “The Streak.” De La Salle has produced Olympians; World Cup Soccer players; NFL, NBA, and MLB athletes; and dozens of coaches and trainers in high schools, colleges, and professional sports. There is a bigger picture, however, of what De La Salle’s Athletics Program offers to its student athletes as part of the educational Mission of De La Salle.

As an extension of the classroom, De La Salle’s Athletic Program offers inherent educational components that include life-long skills — it teaches young men the importance teamwork, accountability, and knowing that they can be counted on to help others at De La Salle and when they graduate..

Students come to De La Salle for the comprehensive education the school provides: mind, body, and spirit. With 80% of our student population participating in athletic programs or health and wellness courses, we need to rise to the challenge and provide space for these students to practice, compete, and learn. A new Athletic Performance Center will help us achieve this goal.

The Bob Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center, will house a revamped weight room and training center, located next to the current gymnasium. This facility will be a critical component in providing our students with a well-rounded education, while also giving them the ability to train and compete at the highest level.

Whether being invited to participate at a wrestling meet in Minnesota, a basketball tournament in Hawaii, or a football game on national television, De La Salle student athletes are our ambassadors both on and off the field. They are representatives of not only their respective teams, but also of the entire De La Salle community.

Yes, the Spartan accomplishments on the field of play are exceptional, but it is the quality education and focus on being a Man of Faith, Integrity, and Scholarship that is most important to us as a school community. At De La Salle High School, we will continue to deliver on this Mission to our young men throughout their four years on campus and into the future.

Please join us in our ambitious effort!

Mark DeMarco ’78
President

Features of the Facility

Students Served: 800+ 
Room Use: Students, Student-Athletes
Weight Room Size: 4,950 SQFT

• 18 Rack Work Stations
• 9 Custom Dual/Combo Racks with Connecting Cross Braces
• 18 In-Laid Platforms
• 2 Dumbbell Racks with 5 to 125 lbs. in 5 lb. Increments.
• 4 Custom Row / Pull Cable Units
• 2 Multi-Functional Cable Units
• 10’ X 75’ Performance Turf Area
• 1” Performance Flooring with Flush High Density Platform Crash Mats
• IWF / IPF Bumper Plates
• Recovery / Nutrition Center

The Bob Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center

Through the creation of the Bob Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center, we aim to fulfill a bold vision for our students. This state-of-the-art fitness center will better educate the whole person – in mind, body, and spirit.

Your investment and support will have a transformative affect on each student at De La Salle, whether he is on the field, on the court, in the pool, or in the classroom.

Currently, more than 800 of the 1,050 young men at De La Salle participate in athletic or fitness-based activities. Our athletics program has grown in recent years, as we’ve listened to the desire of our students to add club and team sports. But with added clubs and teams, comes the need to juggle more strength training and conditioning schedules. This new space will allow more teams to participate in fitness activities concurrently. Here are some of the features of the the new Athletic Performance Center:

• Modernize the Weight and Training Center: The new 4,950-square-foot weight room will allow for an increase in cardio and weight room equipment. Currently at just over 2,000-square feet, the original weight room was built to support 400 student athletes.
• Coaches Office and Conference Room: A new work space for the Head Coaches will not only assist with the cohesiveness of the staff, but will also lead to better collaboration and shared knowledge between all sports. The conference room will allow for a private break out room when needed.
• Large Locker Room/Team Room: The new design will provide additional space for team meetings, visiting teams, as well as provide additional locker space for physical education classes and sports teams.
• Hall of Fame Lobby and Reception Area: The lobby will welcome fans to De La Salle High School. Images in the lobby will feature the storied history of Spartan Athletics, recognizing the many great accomplishments of individuals and teams. A new ticket booth, concession stand, scoreboard, and renovated restrooms will also enhance the fan experience. The Hall of Fame Lobby will also serve as a gathering space for smaller group functions.

What They Are Saying

“The strength and conditioning program is the most integral and essential aspect of our program. We currently have over 150 student athletes who use our current weight room year-round; unfortunately, we have been confined to the same structure that I personally lifted weights in as a graduate from the 1990's. To allow our student-athletes access to more space, better equipment, and an ideal layout would be one of the greatest gifts our football program could receive. Additionally, the new space would allow us to have our entire program working out at the same time and would minimize the need for early morning or late evening workouts.” – Justin Alumbaugh ’98, Head Football Coach

Preparing and training young athletes for their sport is a tremendous task and with a new state of the art facility we will be able to accomplish that and to do it in a safe environment.
– Mark Wine, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach

“The new Athletic Performance Center will be a huge addition to the De La Salle community. This state-of-the-art facility will have a tremendous impact on the direction of our Basketball Program. This Athletic Performance Center will be an extension of the classroom as our student-athletes grow and mature through the development of mind, body, and spirit. This facility is definitely the next step in enabling us to continue our mission and vision not only as an athletics program, but school community.”
– Justin Argenal '04, Head Basketball Coach

For a panoramic virtual reality views of the De La Salle Ladouceur APC, click the links below.

View # 1:  The Hall of Fame Lobby

View # 2: The Performance Center

Through one to five-year pledges and a variety of naming recognition opportunities, all members of the De La Salle community will have the opportunity to contribute. The success of our campaign will require extraordinary support from the entire De La Salle family, including alumni parents, current parents, alumni, and grandparents, as well as friends, foundations, and corporations who believe in young Spartans of today and tomorrow. Please consider making a transformative gift over a one- to five-year period, structuring your gift in ways most advantageous for your own financial planning.

Current Gift

You may make a current gift to De La Salle and fund it with cash, securities, life insurance policies given outright, real estate, or other assets. Gifts of appreciated securities are often particularly beneficial to the donor from a tax perspective.

Pledges

You may pledge an amount to the Campaign and arrange to fulfill it in installments over three to five years.

Get Involved

Our Advancement staff can work with you or your advisor to identify the gift most appropriate to your philanthropic and financial goals. To support the Ladouceur Athletic Performance Center or to learn more about the facility, please contact Vice President for Advancement, Mark Chiarucci at 925-288-8106, or by email at chiaruccim@dlshs.org.