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Don La Violette’s legacy in the areas of education and coaching is a lengthy one. He took great pride in teaching and coaching his students and players at four schools over a 40-year career at Fond du Lac’s St. Mary’s Springs, Beloit Catholic, APHS, and SNC. Don had great respect and love for Catholic education. He cared for his students in and out of the classroom, and he ran successful athletic programs at the high school level and, for 11 years, at the college level at SNC. Even in retirement, for a period of five years, Don revived a struggling football program at Saint Andrew’s High School in Boca Raton, Florida.

Don spent the majority of his years coaching at APHS where he amassed a record of 322-220 in basketball, and a record of 140-89-6 in football. His 1971 football team won the WISAA State Championship. His countless hours dedicated to his students and players led to a number of awards over the span of his career. Don received a Distinguished Achievement Award in Education from SNC,

WISAA Man of the Year Award in 1982, and a Founders Award along with his wife Anne from NDA. Furthermore, in the area of coaching, Don was a five-time FVCC Coach of the Year in football and seven-time FVCC Coach of the Year in basketball. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1995 and into the State High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997. Don was also inducted into the SNC Athletic Hall of Fame.

Don received numerous awards over his prestigious career as an educator and coach, but his greatest love was for Anne, his four children (Karen, Bob, Nancy and Cathy), his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren. Don passed away in February 2015, yet his legacy lives on through his family and all of the students and players whose lives he so positively impacted.