Longtime Shrine head coach dies at 74, leaving legacy that touched countless students, athletes and administrators
ROYAL OAK — Catholic High School League Hall of Fame coach John Goddard has been called home by God.
Goddard, who coached football for 50 years — all but his final season in the Catholic League — passed away Monday, March 2, at the age of 74.
He was the head coach at his alma mater, Royal Oak Shrine, for 25 seasons, from 1993 until 2017. Prior to that, he led Redford St. Agatha for 17 years and Hamtramck Immaculate Conception for one. Goddard had also served as an assistant coach at Shrine, and in 2018, at Farmington, the city where he lived.
Goddard guided his teams to 17 playoff appearances and led Shrine to Catholic League Prep Bowl championships in 2000, 2001 and 2008. Although he had more than 250 wins in his career, his record of service to the Catholic League transcended anything he accomplished on the sideline, league director Vic Michaels said.
“He wasn’t just a football coach in the Catholic League, he had his hand in everything,” Michaels said. “He was the president of our coaches’ association, probably for 40 years, he coached in our league for 49 years as a head coach, he sat on our Hall of Fame committee for over 25 years, and he was also an executive board member. (In 1998,) he was chosen Person of the Year; it could have been Person of the Decade. He was very involved, not just at the schools where he was coaching at, in the Catholic League itself.”
Marine City Cardinal Mooney head coach Joe Quenelle, who coached with Goddard (as an assistant) and against him, called Goddard “a man filled with courage, honesty, integrity and compassion.”
“We played against each other in the 1996 Prep Bowl,” Quenelle said. “It was my second year as a head coach (at Detroit Holy Redeemer) and about his 25th year. Prior to the game I was extremely nervous and was standing outside the tunnel at the Silverdome. Coach comes outside and proceeds to help me calm down. I tell that story often when people ask me to explain the difference between the Catholic League and other leagues. I tell them that once the game started, no one wanted to win more than Coach, but before and after the game he was a gentleman and a mentor.”
Goddard, who graduated from Shrine in 1963, also served as Shrine’s athletic director from 2014-18. Shrine principal James Mio said Goddard was firmly entrenched in the fabric of the school.
“I hardly spoke to him as a student at Shrine and as a teacher, but as I joined the administration of Shrine, he would sit in my office and chat about his football, work, and military memories. He was a man with so much experience and passion for coaching,” Mio said. “Although he left Shrine with a heavy heart, he will always be honored and respected as a devoted Catholic, Shrine graduate and employee.
“Coach, now you can take your time to relax with God and you will certainly be missed,” Mio added.
Goddard is survived by his wife, Gloria, a daughter, Andrea (J.P.) Arens, and a son, John Jr. (Shawn) — who was also a longtime assistant coach to his father. He leaves six grandchildren, and was brother to Chris (Merry) and Debbie (Ken) Schonhoff.
Visitation has been set for 2-8 p.m. Thursday with a 7 p.m. Scripture service at the Wm. Sullivan and Son Funeral Home, 705 W. 11 Mile Rd. in Royal Oak. The funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 711 Rickett Road, Brighton. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Catholic High School League are appreciated.
