Tabor resigns post at Bishop LeBlond

Ross Martin
Prep-Sports Reporter

Matt Tabor decided he could not pass up the opportunity to work in the St. Joseph School District. The chance to coach with his best friend since childhood only sealed the deal.

Just more than a month after Paul Woolard was named head football coach at Lafayette, Tabor resigned his position Monday as Bishop LeBlond's head football coach to join Woolard's inaugural staff as an assistant for the Fighting Irish. The two grew up in the same St. Joseph neighborhood, and Woolard served as one of Tabor's best men during his December wedding.

The decision to leave LeBlond was tough for Tabor, whose dad Don Tabor coached 17 years at LeBlond/Christian Brothers, but it ultimately came down to doing what was right his Tabor.

"I think this is going to be an unbelievable experience," Tabor said. "I think we're going to do great things up there. This is a program with a great history. It hasn't been lately, but we think we can get that turned around. Every kid is built to succeed. Success is that place in the world where preparation and opportunity come together. We've just got to get these kids prepared."

The St. Joseph School District confirmed a contract has been extended to Tabor, who turned his resignation to LeBlond officials on Monday, for a social studies teaching position at Lafayette High School, but it has not yet been signed. The contract should be finalized by the end of the week.

Tabor led the Golden Eagles to a 15-22 record in four years as head coach. He likely will become the defensive coordinator duties for Woolard, who takes over a squad that has lost 33 of its last 34 games. Woolard replaced Jim Sardo, who was dismissed at Lafayette immediately following this past season, after he went 1-17 in two seasons with the Irish. Sardo's predecessor Brian Banker was 8-37 in five seasons at Lafayette.

Woolard, who said around 90 students showed up to his first Lafayette football meeting, enters his first season as a head coach after serving five years as an assistant at Central under coach Tony Dudik.

"I think I'll be able to help him out in a lot of areas," Tabor said. "Even though I'm not the head coach, I'll have a role over there. That's not that big of an interest to me anyway. It really isn't. I just want to coach football and make a difference in kids' lives."

LeBlond principal Janet Wilcox said Wednesday that a committee - including alumni, LeBlond athletic hall of fame members and activities director Greg Kastner - has already been formed to find Tabor's replacement. She couldn't place a timetable on naming a successor but indicated the process will end as soon as soon as the right candidate presents himself. No internal candidates have expressed interest.

"Without even advertising this position, we've got lots of letters and resumes," Wilcox said. "With this being a small town, word gets out because this is a sweet job. Simply through word of mouth about the possible opening, people have inquired.

"There's still plenty of time, but we're not sitting back. We're moving."