Football Coach Was A Legend To Rumson-Fair Haven HS Community

RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN, NJ — The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School community is paying tribute to a legendary football coach there, Jerry Schulte, who passed away earlier this month.

Schulte, a husband, father and grandfather and a state championship-winning football coach at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, died on March 2 at his Ocean Township home. He was 72. His full obituary can be found here.

"Earlier this month, the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School community said goodbye to one of its most beloved mentors, state championship-winning football coach, Jerry Schulte," the school said Thursday.

"Legions of past and current Bulldog football players remember Coach Schulte for his calm, quiet demeanor, and the high expectations he held of them," the school said.

The entire Rumson-Fair Haven High School community will "fondly look back on his unwavering service and commitment to the players, the program and the school. Our hearts are full of gratitude for both the lessons Coach Schulte taught and the championships that he was able to bring home to RFH," the school said.

The 2023 football season was Coach Schulte’s 50th as a coach, the school noted.

His obituary said he was known for wearing purple socks on gameday - a tribute to one of the school's colors.

Schulte was inducted into the Shore Football Coaches Foundation Hall of Fame in 2023.

His career coaching record of 109-64-1 is a testament to his hard work throughout the years, from his time working with athletes originally at Keansburg High School, then Mater Dei, Wall, and Monmouth Regional before Rumson-Fair Haven, the school said. A career educator, he retired as a science teacher from Wall, his obituary said.

Schulte joined the RFH program in 2005 as defensive coordinator under head coach Shane Fallon and has been with the program ever since, the school said.

During his tenure as defensive coordinator, Rumson-Fair Haven won four sectional titles in six seasons. His defensive units were known for being prepared, playing unselfish assignment-oriented defense, and swarming to the football.

Schulte was named head coach at Rumson-Fair Haven in February 2016, and the Bulldogs won a sectional title in Schulte’s first season as head coach. Schulte led RFH to another sectional title in 2018. The Bulldogs also finished as runners-up in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Stepping down after the 2021 season, Schulte was replaced by his son, Jeremy, a teacher, coach and advisor at Rumson-Fair Haven, the school said.

Jerry Schulte served as his son’s defensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023 where RFH finished as Group 2 runner-up.

Services were held for Schulte March 10. The family is requesting donations be made in his memory to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.