Legendary Covington High School football coach Jack Salter passes away

It is a sad day for Louisiana football.

Legendary former Covington High School head football coach Jack Salter passed away today after a lengthy illness. Salter was 86, a month short of his 87th birthday.

Greg Salter says his grandfather passed away at about 5:30 p.m.

Salter coached the Lions from 1963-1995, winning a state championship in 1976, beating Istrouma 14-7 for the Class 4A state title.

The most successful football coach in St. Tammany Parish history, Salter compiled an impressive 256-110-8 record in his 33 seasons, winning 70 percent of his games. He remains 18th all-time in victories in Louisiana prep football history. He was inducted into the Allstate Sugar Bowl Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

His grandson, Greg Salter, is the current head coach at Covington and he played for his grandfather on the elder Salter’s final team at Covington in 1996.

“He’s one of the greatest men I’ve ever known,” Greg Salter said. “People always ask what it was like to play for him and to be his grandson. He treated everyone with the same amount of respect. He treated everyone like his own child. He was even-keeled and fair. He was a brilliant coach. His record speaks for itself. The wins and losses don’t define people but his record is undeniable. He is a Hall of Fame coach. He touched so many lives.”

The football stadium at Covington High was re-named Jack Salter Stadium in 2001.

The timing of his passing seems almost ordained.

“Ironically, Jack passed away one day before the 40th anniversary of winning the state championship in 1976 when the Lions beat Istrouma on Dec. 17, 1976,” Greg Salter said. “It seems the good Lord had a plan.”

Salter is survived by four daughters and son, Rick. His son, Scott, passed away previously. Salter has 19 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.

Services are not final, at this point.