Kansas Wrestling Forums General Discussion High School Best Coaches

Just wanted to here from all of you on this subject. Who and why do you think have been some of the best coaches in KS over the years. It may be because of their record, maybe because they got a program going or maybe they did something special for you. I know there are no right or wrong answers here I would just like some opinions.

Without hesitation: WAYNE JACKSON

current active coaches? Larry Gabel St. Fancis, Kurt Baker Hoxie, Billy Johnson Norton...

Not necessarily current but they sure can be. Would also like to hear it for past coaches. Best coaches past and present. Thanks

Beau Vest is a wrestling God.

Florez from Effingham. He won 2 state titles at Garden City and now 2 more at Effingham.

Hard to argue with Flores doing what he has done on each side of the state (each side of the world more like it)
Still wonder how that change occurred, but hats off to him to do what he has done (a very good kids program at Effingham sure didnt hurt though either)

Anyway I would have to nominate Bill CHristner from Abilene. Over the last 7 years , 3 State Championships, 3 more top 4 finishes. 4 Regional Championships, 6 league Titles in a row,which is an NCKL record, 60 something undefeated dual win streak, and 2X 4A Coach of the year. I think that speaks volumes about him. Kirk Baker is also an awsome coach so props to him, and of course Curtis Simmons from Emporia

Dick "Big Daddy" Burns from Bonner Springs wasn't a slouch...

Retired
Gary Harding - Southeast of Saline (I think he is retired )
Jake Durham - Norton
Ed Keller - St. Francis
Buzz Matson - Oberlin
Al McCall - Goodland
Duwayne Miller - Kapaun Mt. Carmel
Bill Pickenpaugh - Hoxie
Bob Warkentine - Salina South
Rocky Welton - Goodland 3X and Garden City 6X

Current:
Terry Alley - Augusta
Randy Bahe - Goodland
Dennis Charbonneau - Clay Center
Mike Garcia - Hutchinson
Doug Moore - Concordia
Todd Napier - Columbus
David Nigg - Wichita South
Dale Samuelson - Oakley
Lee Woodford - Manhattan

I tried not to mention any previously listed, and I do apologize for those I have forgotten!

I have to say Beau Vest. No question about that. Look at what Topeka High was before he stepped in and well look at......well it is coming around.

Bill Leonard (SM West)
Joel Rios (SM South)
Gary Ulmer (Olathe North)

Bill passed away a couple of years ago, Gary just retired and Joel is still producing at South.

These are all guys who I feel have had a great impact on tems in the JC Area.

I'm sure there are many more.........

a word must be said for Bill Johnson, Norton. he has taken a norton program that wasnt too whippy when he came to being the powerhouse that they are now and obviously Baker from hoxie needs mention

RE: Best Coaches

I am only familiar with the NWKL-Western Kansas area (Except for Garker's Geography), and mostly with 3,2,1,A and 4A coaches. However I think TuffEnuff2 and Mr. Salyer have things nailed down.

To: TuffEnuuff2 – It’s Kirk Baker not Kurt
To: Twister – It’s Flores not Florez

Footnote: Assistant coach Jenkins (Sainty) may have helped Mr. Gabel some

I Think one would have to consider the coach that came to Beloit and built a dynasty there in the early eighties, I don't recall his name but he really made something out of nothing there and within a couple of years after he left Beloit was no longer a power as a team. also some consideration would be in order toward Gary "Pudge" Wilson, who was a great wrestler at Greely colo. , then coached several of the championship teams at St. Francis, and coached several years at Colby Community College and was competitive Nationally with local Talent, as Compared to the Foreign guys they use now. These two guys , along with Baker at Hoxie and Johnson at Norton, do(and did) a lot with a little and can (and did) compete with just about anyone. Also Rocky Welton is notable to me because he was successful in 3a, 4a, and 6a in at least three different decades, in wrestling styles that changed quite a bit during those years. I doubt if there are any other coaches that have bridged those years and adapted as well as Rocky. (As far as the foreign talent, my apologies go to Luedke and other local guys)

Ken Piazza was at Beloit when their dynasty began. I would have to say that Chuck Lovenstein did a bunch for the state of Kansas wrestling. He was in Beloit, Phillipsburg, Scott City, and Ellsworth when they began.

Lots of things could be said but any response is pretty subjective. One thing I have to question is how Todd Napier could get mentioned and Ken Jones didn't. Ken clearly built the Columbus program and tradition and for that matter taught Mr Napier an awful lot. I imagine Todd feels awfully fortunate to have such a supportive superintendent as Mr. Jones.

To t. brummer: You mention Mr. Lovenstein: I knew him personally during his Scott city tenure and have to agree. I n that town he worked to establish a kids program, got special ed kids involved in the sport as kids, and was about as tireless a promoter of the sport as any coach I was ever around, besides being a complete gentleman professionally and personally. I never saw the man ever be belittling or demeaning to any of his wrestlers or opponents, which I see a lot of today. Recordwise he probably doesn't rank at the top of the world, but he was certainly able to build a state class program without being a jerk, and that puts him in a regrettably small group.

In the last 40 years, I will pick these 10, all retired and from all classes and all areas of the state. All of then have won a state title, beyond that their qualifications vary, some with quite lengthy service and never a bad team, some with a shorter period of excellence and a couple with stellar careers mired by one bad chapter.
Tom Alstrom
Jake Durham *
Wayne Jackson *
Ken Jones
Dwayne Miller *
Jim Noel *
Ken Piazza
Pat Sands
Larry Tilton *
Rocky Welton *
* Denotes Hall of fame inductee

Now I don't know much about 5A but wouldn't you have to put the Arkansas City Coach up there. How many years in a row did his team walk as the State Champs? Don't know him personally, but he must do something good. What's everybody else think?