Coach Lenny Schultz had a profound impact on the Madison community.

Schultz graduated from Madison in 1983, starring in both football and wrestling. He would attend North Carolina State University to play the former. After returning to Madison to teach Madison’s special education classes, he took on the Varsity football coaching job for six seasons, from 2011 to 2016, turning the team around from a 1-9 record to a perennial playoff contender. Schultz tragically passed away in a car accident over the summer, leaving many in the Madison community shocked, as he touched the lives of everyone he taught and coached, believing in both hard work and family.

“Treating the team like a family is something that is going to continue through this season and those to follow,” Offensive Coordinator Mike Colbert said.

Schultz showed his love for the school both as a student and on staff. He is in the Madison Sports Hall of Fame as a player, but his most recent and significant influences on the school have occurred after coming back to coach football as an adult. He sowed into the lives of the boys he coached.

“He always wanted to spend time with us and did whatever it took to get to know us. He would just come and be with us. He would take time out of his day to come be with us,” said Outside Linebacker Tommy Williams (’18).

Schultz looked out for the underdog and believed that hard work should result in playing time. He gave everyone a chance.

As with life, family involvement plays an important role in sports. Schultz did his best to be a part of his players’ families, joining them in their activities outside of football.

“He came to a lot of wrestling matches to help coach me in the corner. He would come to practice sometimes. It motivated me because I felt like I was trying to win for him instead of just wrestling,” said Varsity Wrestler and Defensive Tackle Andrew Barrett (’18).

Schultz’s loss created a strong sense of grief among football players. The team was attached to him. They looked up to their coach and admired him’ losing him was hard for every single member of Madison football.

It was also a great loss for the other coaches as well. They were a tight-knit family beyond the team. Many of them have known each other for years and they communicate about both football and just life in general. A lot of them played together when they were in high school.

“When Lenny died, I felt like I lost a brother. In many ways I did. We had played together in high school here, and we coached together. He really was like a brother to me,” Colbert said.

The team wants to continue to play as if Schultz was still with them.

“Schultz wanted everyone to be a better person, and he took that seriously. It wasn’t really about football. It was more just about making us better people, and I still carry that with me today, just working a little bit harder, going a little bit faster, and doing everything to the best of my ability,” Williams said.

Coaches and players described Schultz as “special,” “selfless,” and “loyal.”

“If you were his friend or one of his players, he would always go to bat for you. He would do whatever it took to have your back,” Colbert said

The legacy that Schultz left behind was one of family, hard work, high expectations and success.

“Coach’s legacy as a football coach was pretty impressive. He was really successful, but his bigger legacy was what he did for the community. He inspired young men to become good people and kept people safe and happy,” Williams said.