Forty-one seasons into his tenure as O’Dea High School’s head football coach, Monte Kohler doesn’t dwell on records or trophies when reflecting on his time with the Fighting Irish. Instead, he talks about consistency—and the joy of working with good kids year after year.
“This is a long tenure, this is year 41. When you are able to win a state championship, obviously, those are high points of it, but also, just being able to do it each year with great kids makes it easier and has to be a high point for me, because otherwise there would be too many ups and downs,” Kohler says, his voice tinged with the gratitude of a man who has spent decades in pursuit not of accolades, but of steady purpose. “We have been consistent and strong for many years, and I feel blessed to be here. Each year has its own individual journey, and it is fun.”
Indeed, his career accomplishments are impressive: 394 career wins, five state championships — including last year’s 38–15 victory over Bellevue — and a tie with legendary Tumwater High School coach Sid Otton as Washington state’s winningest high school football coach. Yet, despite being just one win away from holding that record outright, Kohler remains focused on his mission of developing young men over collecting personal accolades.
“I understand it, but I haven’t really thought about it or talked about it as a team. But again, I am anxious to see if we happen to win sometime in the next three or four weeks, if I will feel any different. But I never got into coaching to do that; it is more about the young men than it is ever about me,” he says. “There have been a lot of kids and coaches that have shared these 41 years, and so hopefully they will take some pride and say ‘Hey, I won one of those games or was a part of that winning team.’ It is not about me. It is obviously about the school, our kids, and our whole community.”
Kohler’s influence goes far beyond the football field. O’Dea’s quarterback and linebackers coach Pierre Le Dorze, who played for Kohler from 2011 to 2013 and returned to the program as a coach in 2020, believes he shares a unique bond with Kohler—one that has allowed him to challenge and support him, both as a player and as a young man growing into his potential. It’s a trait that he says is not unique just to him, but one that Kohler shares with many of his former and current players.
“I played for him as a player, and then coming back now as a coach, there is actually a few of us on the staff that are like that, and that attests to the coach he is and the person he is where we would want to come back and work with him,” Le Dorze says. “The environment that he creates for success as a student, first and foremost, and as a young man, is special. Coach Kohler really pushed me to be better then and now.”
Kohler’s coaching philosophy, inspired by Lou Holtz, centers on three core values: trust, commitment to excellence, and caring for others. He believes football is more than a game—it’s a platform for teaching life lessons like hard work, discipline, and loyalty, values he’s emphasized consistently throughout his career.
“We talk to our student athletes about three things. One, can we trust you, and what does that mean? And, we say, do you do it right all the time, not just when somebody’s looking? And that has nothing to do with football. Two, are you committed to excellence? And again, not just football. Are you committed to excellence with your family, friends, and with your spirituality, all those things? And then three, how do you treat other people, and do you care about other people?” said Kohler. “I mean, football is just a great game, but we understand that it is about preparing young men for life because it has a lot to offer to be formative for the kids.”
Le Dorze said what he admires most about Kohler is his ability to stay rooted in tradition while adapting to the changing needs of each new generation of players.
“He has always been consistent, but at the same time, he can adjust and make changes for the new generation of kids he coaches. When I was a kid, we didn’t have music at practice, but now we do. We still run the same plays they ran in the ’90s, but he incorporated music to meet today’s kids where they are,” Le Dorze said. “He is still old school, which I love about him because a lot of old school coaches fall off because they can’t adjust to the new generations, but his ability to do what he does and find long-term success while making small changes along the way is admirable.”
Over the years, Kohler has seen more than wins and titles. He’s seen generations of student-athletes grow up and return — like Le Dorze — to give back to the program that helped shape them. Since 1985, he’s led O’Dea football with the same steady presence, always focused on building young men who understand the value of integrity, discipline, and service to others.
“I never got into coaching to [break records or chase milestones]; it is more about the young men than it is ever about me,” says Kohler.
