Don La Violette
Don La Violette, who spent 11 seasons as St. Norbert College’s head football coach and guided the Green Knights into the Midwest Conference, tied today (Thursday) in Green Bay. He was 83.
La Violette was a 1954 St. Norbert graduate and coached football at the school from 1983-93, posting a 59-43-1 record. The Green Knights, who joined the Midwest Conference for football in 1984, won league championships in 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1989. St. Norbert also made their first NCAA Division III Playoffs appearance in 1989.
La Violette also served as St. Norbert’s men’s basketball coach for three seasons from 1987 to 1989, totaling a 36-30 record.
La Violette arrived at St. Norbert after spending 24 years at Abbot Pennings High School. He coached both football and basketball. He led the Squires to a 140-89-6 record, six Fox River Christian Conference championships and the 1971 WISAA state championship. He also led the Squires to 324 wins on the hardwood with eight WISAA state tournament appearances. He was named FRCC Coach of the Year seven times in basketball and five times in football.
La Violette was inducted into the St. Norbert College Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 1977 and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995.