De La Salle Hires Veteran Head Coach Chad Mahaffey

by Robin Fambrough // GeauxPreps.com Contributor

Previously, Chad Mahaffey’s biggest connection to New Orleans-based De La Salle was almost nine years ago when he coached at University High.

That changed Monday when Mahaffey resigned as head football coach at Class 5A Walker in order to accept the head coaching job at 4A De La Salle. 

“Obviously, the history and the tradition of the school is something that stands out first and foremost,” Mahaffey said. “The school has a lot of unique qualities that set it apart from other Catholic schools in that area.

“I coached against them with U-High. And I’ve seen them on film a few times since I’ve been at Walker. It’s a consistent program that does things at a high level.”

Mahaffey spent seven seasons as head coach at Walker after a 10-year stint at University.  

The Wildcats finished 1-9 last fall, just two years after the school’s best season in the Class 5A ranks with a 10-3 record and Walker’s first berth in the football quarterfinals.  The Livingston Parish-based Wildcats also were 7-5 in 2024.

“As a coach, when you look back, you always wish you could have won more games,” Mahaffey said of his time at Walker. “There were highlights and a number of firsts for the program. We always worked to do things at a high level.”

Mahaffey has a career record of 142-59 overall in 17 seasons as a head coach.

At U-High, Mahaffey won LHSAA Division II select titles in 2014, 2017, and 2018, including a 45-19 victory over a De La Salle team coached by current Jesuit coach Ryan Manale in 2017. The Cubs also had a runner-up finish in 2013.

“Last week, he (Mahaffey) told us he was contacted by another school about a job, and he was interested. And over the weekend, they (De La Salle) offered it to him,” Walker athletic director Joey Sanchez said. “Chad has done nothing but positive things for Walker High School.

“I was lucky enough to work with him for four years. He is very detail-oriented and is one of the best offensive minds I’ve been around. We wish him well.”

Mahaffey said he will complete the school year at Walker but will make trips to New Orleans to work with the De La Salle squad while planning for the fall season. 

A former Catholic High player, Mahaffey started his career as an assistant at his alma mater in 2001. He is also part of the coaching tree of the Bears’ Dale Weiner (317 career wins). The group also includes Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards, Zachary coach David Brewerton, current U-High coach Andy Martin, and Weiner’s son, Neil, of The Dunham School.

Mahaffey’s grandfather, the late Racer Holstead, was a legendary north Louisiana coach who won 310 games at Tallulah High and Tallulah Academy.