COLUMBIA, MO – February 22, 2019 – Fr. Tolton Catholic High School Athletics/Activities Director and Varsity Head Football Coach, Chad Masters, has officially tendered his resignation to school officials. Masters has accepted the position as varsity head football coach and leadership and theology teacher at St. John Vianney Catholic High School in Kirkwood, Missouri. Masters’ last day with Tolton Catholic will be June 30, 2019.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I will be stepping away from Fr. Tolton Catholic at the end of this school year, but I am also excited to begin a new chapter of my life in St. Louis at St. John Vianney Catholic High School,” Masters said.
“My family and I truly love the Fr.Tolton Catholic community, school, football program and families. It has been a labor of love that we have wholeheartedly poured ourselves into this special place. We are very grateful for all of the families in the football program and school who allowed us to serve, coach and mentor their children. We will miss the many people who make this a great community, and we will continue to keep you all in our thoughts and prayers, as we ask the same from you. This was a very difficult decision for us, but God opens doors and asks us to follow His call wherever it may be, which my family will always do. Thank you, Blazer Nation, for everything!”
Masters has served as the director of athletics and activities and varsity head football coach since March 2011, the first year of Tolton Catholic’s operations. He was instrumental in growing the school’s athletics and activities program to its current state with 15 varsity and junior varsity sports and several MSHSAA-sanctioned activities. He also implemented the Play Like a Champion Today Educational Series for coaches and parents at Tolton Catholic to promote character education through sports. During his tenure, the Trailblazers won six team state championships and 23 individual state championships.
In previous years with Tolton Catholic, Masters also served as the dean of students, track and field coach, theology teacher, and physical education teacher. Prior to accepting the position with Tolton Catholic, Masters taught physical education at Hickman High School and was an assistant coach for football and track and field.
In addition to his duties at Tolton Catholic, Masters is a member of MSHSAA’s Investigative Committee and Athletic Directors Advisory Committee, as well as President of NE District of Missouri Interscholastic Activities and Athletics Association.
“Coach Masters’ many contributions as a teacher and coach, along with his trailblazing role in building a 15-varsity sports program as athletic director, will be forever remembered here at Fr. Tolton Catholic High School,” said Principal Gwenn Roche. “While our school will miss him, we are extremely pleased for him and wish him well as he steps into his new position at Vianney Catholic High School.”
“Coach Masters did a lot for our school and we have some big shoes to fill, and not just because he served as our head football coach as well as the athletics and activities director,” said President Deacon Dan Joyce. “We’ll begin within the next couple of weeks by posting an ad for the AD position, and shortly after that we’ll seek applicants for the football coaching position.”
CONTACT:
Joe Bradley
Coordinator of Strategic Communications
jbradley@toltoncatholic.org
573-445-7700 Ext. 2106
