One Kentucky high school boasts two of state’s all-time winningest coaches

When Lexington Catholic brought Todd Bretz back to his alma mater to coach the boys’ soccer team this season, it gave its athletics department a distinction that no other high school in Kentucky can match — more than 1,000 wins between its girls’ and boys’ head soccer coaches combined.

Bretz, hired to succeed longtime boys’ coach Jonathan Kincheloe, began the season tied with St. Xavier’s Andy Schulten atop the all-time boys’ coaching wins list. Bretz’s record of 509-192-44 includes four state championships in six finals appearances for Paul Laurence Dunbar.

LexCath’s Terry Quigley has a commanding lead atop the girls’ coaching wins list with a record of 501-203-34 heading into 2023, nearly 150 more wins than the next active coach. Quigley has made nine appearances in the state finals, winning it all in 2002.

“When we have the boys and girls practicing on one field with it split and you realize just how much knowledge and experience is out there, for us, for the school, it’s about how much our kids are able to benefit from that, and the success we hope comes with it,” said LexCath Athletics Director Dave Nurnberg, “We’re really thrilled about this year.”

Bretz spent the last three seasons coaching Sayre’s boys’ team, but reconnected with Lexington Catholic upon sending two of his daughters to the school in recent years.

Olivia Bretz was a 2023 graduate and a first-team all-city player for the Knights who is continuing her athletic career this fall at Central Michigan University. His youngest, Bella, is a sophomore goalkeeper for Quigley. His oldest, Mary Elizabeth, is a junior at Thomas More University.

Bretz went 6-8-3 last season with the Spartans, but couldn’t say enough good things about the small-school program and the support there.

“Sayre was absolutely wonderful. … They do a fantastic job with what small population they have,” Bretz said. “I thought about whether it was time to step away from high school and just watch my daughters — all three are playing still — but when this opportunity came up to be back here, it was one of those things I just wanted to give it a try.”

Things have changed a bit since Bretz took the soccer pitch as a player for the Knights in the 1980s.

“The building’s obviously much bigger,” Bretz said with a smile.

He’s been pleased with his players’ effort this preseason.

“They’re working really hard,” Bretz said. “They are trying to get used to me and I’m trying to get used to them. They’ve been very open. It’s been great.”

With LexCath, Bretz makes his return to the 43rd District, where his former team has won three straight district and 11th Region titles and two straight state championships since his departure. He knows being back in the 43rd will be a challenge.

“That’s the goal — to try to get this team up to that level to compete with them,” Bretz said.

Like the Dunbar boys’ team, Lexington Catholic’s girls’ team has been the dominant force in the district and region in its own right. This summer the girls’ and boys’ teams split their field to train each morning.

“It’s great because I get to learn stuff with the way Terry does things,” Bretz said. “Terry’s been a great influence on my life — he’s the one that got me involved in soccer, so to be back sharing space and time with him is really cool.”

Quigley recalls teaching Bretz at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School and watching his varsity playing career.

“He was a gifted player. He was probably the best known player in Lexington. And, of course now, he’s a very well known coach,” Quigley said.

Quigley admitted he’s trying to learn things from Bretz too. For instance, he and assistant coach Megan Skinner noted how Bretz approached corner kicks at a recent practice, he said.

“I’ve been trying to steal drills from him, but we’re training at the same time so I’d have to actually stop coaching to watch him,” Quigley said. “But I’m going to steal as many drills as I can.”

The sheer dominance of St. Xavier in the boys’ game means that Schulten undoubtedly will pass Bretz on the all-time wins list. The Tigers have won 15 KHSAA state titles, six more than any other school and Schulten has been head coach for 11 of those. St. X finished runner-up last season with a record of 24-2-3.

“He’s done a masterful job managing that program over the years,” Bretz said. “But the fact that I’m still able to do this and able to be competitive, that’s the key.”

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