Kansas Wrestling Forums General Discussion College Baker University - hired Jimmy May first coach

I've been wanting to respond to some comments, but I haven't been able to find the time lately, I have a quick minute, I will try to brief but am not good at that! I know long posts are hard to read.

There are PLENTY of BU students who are middle class, I know this firsthand, I have been around the school since 1982. It is MOST DEFINITELY NOT a school for the rich and rich alone! If you were around the place much, you would laugh at that thought! Many down to earth, real middle class folk walking around! It is a GREAT place!

"Not many will benefit??"
If there are 25-35 (or more?) wrestlers on BU's roster then a good number of kids are having the opportunity to be able to get a good education and continue their wrestling careers...that is a good thing. Add that number of kids up over the years and a lot are benefitting. Most importantly, it is all about EDUCATION. Kids are getting degrees and advancing to the careers of their choice! Kids have to take care of business in the classroom at Baker (like any school) or they won't cut it.

"Why enrollment is low??"
The enrollment numbers are around 1,000 (+/- 200) at most of these small private schools because of several reasons: #1, the school is not for everyone (some kids want bigger schools, some kids don't qualify for the financial aide package to make it feasible, and MOSTLY the school is for kids who have taken care of business in the classroom). Reason #2, there are SO MANY of these schools not only in Kansas, but throughout the entire Midwest. Why is this? I think it's probably related to the fact that the Midwest is FULL of that particular demographic = moderate income, hard-working folk. Think about it, wouldn't these schools fold if that wasn't the case???? I was told by a parent yesterday that they are paying $12,000 to send their child to KU and that many public school students are paying from $12,000 to $15,000/year. If small private schools cost $25,000, much of that difference is often made up with financial aide/scholarships. This is not the case for everybody, as I have admitted, but it is the case for many. If there were fewer of these schools then enrollments would be higher. Hopefully that responds to that question.

"Putting money on somebody's coffers??"
Sorry, not the motive for starting the program! Whose "coffers"? Pockets, salaries? That strikes a nerve, have to respond. Anybody who knows (like myself, my parents have worked at Baker since 1982), most employees at schools such as BU are paid less than public school employees in similar positions (college admin salary is usually lower than public school admin pay, many professors are paid less than public school teachers, etc.) Nobody is getting rich as a BU employee, as a matter of fact, much less so than public school teachers. Not sure what coffers are being referred to, but small schools need enrollment to survive, and adding sports can be a great way to boost numbers. I grew up with both parents working as BU employees, and they have stayed put b/c they have given their heart/souls to the place, they love it, not b/c they were/are making much money. My mom started as a tutor in Academic Skills Center and now has a PhD and is Dean of Education Department, she is an amazing person, definitely one my heroes, very wise and full of integrity...I am getting sidetracked, as usual.

And as for original point of the thread started by Mr. Westfahl...Coach May being hired. He was determined the top choice out of a pool of very good applicants. The hiring decision made sense to me. I have always tried my hardest to be a proud and contributive member of the KANSAS WRESTLING community, but if it means I have to take on a "no outsiders" attitude, then you can count me out.

I, for one, am VERY excited to welcome Coach May to the Midwest, to Kansas, and to Baldwin City. He has been great to get to know and I like his enthusiasm and expertise. When I first read this thread, I made sure to call him and let him know not all Kansans would be as unwelcoming. I assured him he would come across many nice and supportive people in his time here. He has been gracious about it all, he continues to come across to me as a very good person. And I am excited to help him in any way I can! I am also very proud of my dad for the work/efforts he has put toward this, nobody knows this more than I do and I am going to defend him as his VERY PROUD son as often as I need to for any professional decision he makes or is involved in, especially when it was a sound one such as this. Again, there were some GREAT applicants, which means many unhappy parties, unfortunately. But Coach May is a very impressive person and I congratulate him for winning the job.

I knew whoever was first coach had a challenging task. However, it is frustrating Mr. Westfahl to see that you want to add to that struggle and are determined to put a lot of time/effort to sabotage the efforts of BU/Coach May because you don't like the hiring decision (you stated that you would support the program NONE and you have put continual effort towards publicly posted criticism).

I often say stupid and/or confusing things that don't make sense, that is why I usually try to have things like this proofread, but I don't have time in this instance. So I apologize in advance if I am incorrect anywhere or say anything out of line, don't want to do that. I will try to be sure to edit thread if I come across any misinformation (please help with this readers). I am in hurry and typing fast, have to get back to my kids who are patiently waiting for me in other room, I hate when I keep them waiting on me.

Let me know if I can help answer any questions or do anything else. I AM EXCITED ABOUT NEW COLLEGE WRESTLING PROGRAM IN KANSAS! THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME!

GO WILDCATS!

GO KANSAS!

Kit Harris
Baldwin City USA (and GO BULLDOGS, too!)