Salado head coach Tom Westerberg announced his retirement from coaching on Wednesday after a 37-year career that included leading Allen High School to four state championships in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Westerberg has a career record of 191-50 with stops at Allen, Barbers Hill and his native Salado. He was also an assistant coach for Garland High’s 1998 state championship team under current THSCA Executive Director Joe Martin. 

“I’m 37 years into this and coming home to Salado was great," Westerberg said. "I wanted to make it work and we just didn’t have as much success as I’d like so I thought it was time to go into a different direction start a new chapter."

The retirement is effective January 31.

Westerberg, who was Allen’s offensive coordinator, was promoted to head coach in 2004 and immediately had great success at the booming DFW suburb leading the Eagles to the state semifinals in his second year in 2006. After winning the state title in 2008, Allen remained among the elites in DFW before in 2012 taking off as a national power by winning three straight state titles led by legendary QB Kyler Murray. Westerberg remained at Allen one more season in 2015 where he posted a 14-1 mark and led the Eagles to the state semifinals before moving on to Barbers Hill in the Houston area. 

At Barbers Hill, Westerberg helped the Eagles emerge as a power in the area with 2019 being the high-water mark as BHHS posted an 11-2 mark. He led the Eagles to the playoffs in four of his five seasons. 

In 2021 Westerberg gave athletic administration a shot as he spent the year as the Hays Consolidated ISD Athletic Director before jumping back into coaching in 2022 at his alma mater Salado. 

“I always wanted this job," he said. "I had applied three other times to be the head coach here, it didn’t work out back then. The last time I applied was in 2000, my career went a different direction and it all worked out. We love this place and we are retiring here, so now it’s time for me to be a fan in the stands go watch my son (Kyle Westerberg head coach at Whitehouse) and some of my former assistants and players coach."

Expect Salado ISD athletic director Paul Baird to get the job posted quickly as the Eagles move into the offseason. 

“The relationships are the best part of the business," Westerberg said. "Every job I’ve ever had as a head coach and as an assistant coach I’ve loved coming to work every day doing this. I’ll miss that part the most."