Iconic Southlake Carroll, Austin Westlake coach Todd Dodge hired as Lovejoy’s head coach

Legendary former Southlake Carroll head coach Todd Dodge was announced as Lucas Lovejoy’s next head coach on Saturday.

Per a statement from Lovejoy ISD, the board of trustees unanimously approved Dodge to serve as athletic director and head football coach. Dodge spent two years away from coaching following a championship three-peat with Austin Westlake in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons.

“We are thrilled to welcome Todd Dodge to Lovejoy ISD as our new Athletic Director and Head Football Coach,” Superintended of Schools Katie Kordel said in a statement. “His experience and accomplishments are unmatched. There is no doubt that Coach Dodge will take Lovejoy’s legacy of excellence to the next level and provide our student athletes with a meaningful experience.”

Dodge finished his tenure at Westlake with an undefeated, 16 win season. With Southlake Carroll, Dodge secured state championship wins in the 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons.

Dodge said in the statement that the Lovejoy job is an “answered prayer” and that it will allow him to be close to his grandchildren. Dodge added he will “do everything” to honor to legacy of the player and coaches that came before him at Lovejoy.

Todd Dodge’s son, Riley Dodge, was hired as Southlake Carroll’s head coach in 2018 and led the Carroll Dragons to the 2020 Class 6A D1 State Championship, where they lost 52-34 to Todd Dodge and Austin Westlake. The matchup is believed to be the only occurrance of a father coaching against a son in a state title game.

Dodge has a career record of 233-72 and will take over a Lovejoy team that went 12-2 in the 2023 season. Lovejoy was defeated 42-0 by South Oak Cliff in the state quarterfinal.

Dodge, who has 70 career playoff wins, has a proven track record of turning high school football programs into contenders for state championships.

As a player, Dodge was a quarterback at the University of North Texas. He was also a coach at the university, posting an overall record of 6-37 in four seasons.

Dodge will take over for Chris Ross, who posted a record of 45-9 at Lovejoy. Ross left to become the offensive coordinator at Stephen F. Austin University.

Dodge has coached nine quarterbacks to an state offensive player of the year award. He is a member of the Texas High School Hall of Fame and was inducted into the THSCA Hall of Honor.