The Westlake Chippewas football team has promoted defensive coordinator Tony Salazar into the head coaching role following the retirement of former head coach Todd Dodge. The team has performed well as of late with three straight state championships and hopes to continue that success with Salazar.
Salazar received many offers from other schools to lead their programs but chose Westlake.
"I’ve been ready for this opportunity," Salazar said. "I’ve been prepared for this opportunity.”
Salazar has big shoes to fill. Dodge was named national coach of the year, according to a report from KXAN. But Dodge is confident that Salazar is up to the challenge of the head coaching job.
“There is absolutely no one better to be the next head football coach than Tony,” Dodge told KXAN. “He is ready. He is — if not the most intelligent — one of the most intelligent football coaches that I’ve ever been around. He is a great teacher of the game of football.”
Salazar became a member of Dodge's staff in 2014 after coaching tenures throughout the Central Texas area. The hire was made official on Jan. 11 by Eanes Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Tom Leonard during a board study session in the morning after honoring the team for their three consecutive titles. Former coach Dodge played college football for the Texas Longhorns and had decided to retire in advance of what was ultimately another championship season for Westlake.
The program was also very successful at producing college players under Dodge, with five Westlake players signing letters of intent this year, according to a report from KXAN. It is hoped that this college success will continue with Salazar. Salazar's past coaching experience includes Mary Hardin-Baylor from 2004 to 2006, Dripping Springs from 2007 to 2008 and Leander from 2009 to 2012, according to a report from KVUE.