Lux’s 200th win shows success, spirit, dedication
Trending
NEW ULM -- Saturday was memorable day for New Ulm Cathedral head football coach Denny Lux as he earned his 200th career coaching win in the Greyhounds' 42-6 win over Nicollet at Johnson Field.
The win moves Lux to 200-123 in his 31 years in leading the Greyhounds football program, which includes a 2010 Minnesota State Class A football championship.
But it was not an easy start for Lux when he took over as head coach as he went 0-8 in his first season in 1995 and had a 1-7 season the following year.
"That first year we did not win a game and we won one game in the second year," Lux said. "But the guys just kept believing and trusting and we got it turned around in that third year and things kind of took off from there."
Year 3 saw the Greyhounds go 5-5, while Lux's fourth season saw a 7-3 finish.
But through Lux, the football program was evolved and he said it was because of the school itself
"There seems to be an expectation to do your best," Lux said about New Ulm Cathedral. "Whether it is in academics or extracurriculars, drama, the band and everything. The students at Cathedral just expect to do their best and that is where a lot of the success that we have had in many areas of the school starts.
"The school was hungry to have football be successful. We have been blessed with many, many good coaches along the way and parents that believed in what we were doing."
New Ulm Cathedral Activities Director Alan Woitas said that Lux is more than just a football coach.
"He is a leader of young men and has done a tremendous amount, not only for our football program but our school just by the characteristics he instills in the students that he coaches but also by the students that he teaches every day in the classroom," Woitas said. "He has had a profound impact on many young people here and he has left his mark in more than just success on the football field."
Lux, a graduate of Sleepy Eye St. Mary's, said he credited his high school football coach at St. Mary's in Wayne Pelzel for his success.
"He made me become the kind of a person that I wanted to be coming out of high school," Lux said. "I learned so much about relationships and relating with young people from him -- he is one that I attribute to any success that I possibly have had.
"You have to be honest and being yourself with your players is important -- you cannot just step on the field for two hours and try to be somebody different that you think may be the way to lead a team because you have to be honest because young people see through that. They know if you are somebody or trying to be somebody."
Woitas said football coaches in the area all have a high regard and respect for Lux.
"And that is because he has done things for a long time the right way," Woitas said. "That consistency and dedication to a program is not something that you see all of the time. He treats people the right way -- he has earned that respect from everyone.
"We are just lucky and fortunate to have him as our football coach. I do not know if you can put into words what he means to Cathedral -- his impact goes beyond what he does on the football field, the weight room and the classroom -- he is very well respected here at Cathedral and around Minnesota."