Helias names new football coach

Chris Hentges will be the new football coach at Helias High School. He will replace Tim Rulo, who was forced out of the position at the end of last year.

“It is an honor to accept the head football coaching position at Helias Catholic,” said Chris Hentges in a release.

Hentges is no stranger to coaching at Helias. He was the Crusaders’ football coach from 2006-2010. He went 50-12 in five seasons, including two trips to the state title game. The Crusaders also won three district championships in that time span. In 2011, Hentges decided to step back into an assistant role.

In a release from the school, Helias president Father Stephen Jones said, “Our goal is always to hire the best candidate for our kids and our school community. Sometimes you have to look far and wide to find that person, and sometimes they are already a member of your community. Chris is an exceptionally good coach and a man of faith and integrity. We are thankful that he will return to coaching football at our school.”

Hentges is also a former Helias football player. He played for his father, Ray Hentges, who taught and coached at Helias for 34 years. The Crusaders’ new football stadium is named ‘Ray Hentges Stadium.’ Chris Hentges’ son Hale Hentges just won his second college football national championship with Alabama.

Hentges went on to say, “Helias football has been an important part of my life and I’ve truly missed being involved with the program the last three years. When the position came open I spent time in prayer and discussion with my family. I am grateful the administration is entrusting the program to me. My expectation is for both players and coaches to represent Helias with honor and class; and my goal is to make Helias football the best program in the state.”

Matt Trachsel (Helias Advisory Council member) said in a release, “Hentges was selected from a pool of 20 applicants by a committee which included school administrators, faculty and the school’s advisory council. I feel like this process was an extremely positive one. We had great candidates and our interviews allowed us to gauge one against another – from philosophy, to experience, to personalities. And without a shadow of a doubt we have the right man.”

Hentges will be officially introduced at a news conference at Helias at 10 a.m. on Thursday.