Jerry Schulte, a beloved 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.
Schulte is survived by his wife of 45 years, Patrice; his children, Jeremy and wife Alyssa, and Ashley Corcione and her husband, Anthony; grandchildren Anthony, Jack, Nicholas and Owen; his brother, John Schulte, and wife Debbie; brothers-in-law John LeBaron and wife, Nancy, and Bill LeBaron and wife, Jan, and many nieces and nephews, whom he adored.
Schulte was predeceased by his mother, Betty Jane, and father, John Schulte, and his brother Jeff.
A true gentleman who enjoyed the challenges and rewards of coaching high school athletes, Schulte will be missed by those who knew him well and loved him. All who know him, can imagine him enjoying his days with scotch and a cigar while in his sunglasses. He brought such joy to anyone would have the pleasure of his company.
The 2023 football season was his 50th as a coach. He was inducted into the Shore Football Coaches Foundation Hall of Fame in 2023 and had a career coaching record of 109-64-1.
Schulte will be remembered by coaching peers in football, wrestling and softball for his self-deprecating and desert-dry sense of humor, quick wit and his ability to dish out and accept good-natured ribbing; by his players for an even-keeled demeanor on the sideline and a coaching style that was demanding but rarely overbearing; by the media for always playing things close to the vest, quotes that never made anyone’s bulletin board and his purple socks (one of RFH’s school colors) on gameday.
A career educator, Schulte retired from the Wall Township School District in 2020 where he was a science teacher. He also was a teacher at now-defunct Mater Dei High School, Middletown Township.
Schulte was an assistant football coach at his alma mater, Keansburg High School, before he accepted the heading coaching position at Mater Dei. He was at Mater Dei from 1980-1984. He was also the head coach at Wall (1990-1999) and offensive coordinator at Monmouth Regional, Tinton Falls, from 2000-2004.
However it was at Rumson-Fair Haven where Schulte had his greatest success. He joined Shane Fallon’s staff in 2005 as defensive coordinator and has been with the program ever since.
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.
Schulte stepped down after the 2021 season and was replaced by his son, Jeremy, for the 2022 season. Jerry Schulte served as his son’s defensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023 where RFH finished as Group 2 runner-up.
Schulte was a 1970 graduate of Keansburg High School where he was a standout fullback and middle linebacker. He played football at the now-defunct Upsala College, East Orange, where an injury ended his playing career. He transferred to Monmouth College (now university), West Long Branch, in 1975. It was at Monmouth where he first took an interest in wrestling.
Schulte served as the head wrestling coach at Mater Dei and was a wrestling assistant at Wall and Rumson-Fair Haven. He also had more than 300 victories as the freshman softball coach at Wall from 1985-2010.
Rest in peace, coach.
Services will be held Sunday, March 10, from 1-3 p.m. at Pollak Theater at Monmouth University, 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Arrangements are under the direction of Thompson Memorial Home of Red Bank, NJ.
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