By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
The Bo Black era at Hays High school lasted all of one season. Coach Black today announced he has accepted a teaching and head football coaching position at Shawnee Mission Northwest.
Black led the Indians to an undefeated Western Athletic Conference title and was named coach of the year. Hays was 7-2 on the year, but missed the playoffs with a 1-2 district record. Black has spent the past 14 seasons in the Western Athletic Conference, 13 of those in Great Bend. Black has an overall coaching record of 89-49.
Coach Black said that was content with his job in Hays, but when Shawnee Mission Northwest came calling, the opportunity was just too good to pass up. The job opportunity didn’t become available until December and proceeded quickly from there.
Black said of Hays, “It’s a great place to live, it’s a great place to raise a family, it’s a great school district to teach in. (There) are a lot of things that are really, really good here.”
The new job though from a football coaching opportunity was a big draw. “From the football coaching perspective, it’s just a better opportunity professionally with some really good things happening up there.”
The Shawnee Mission Northwest is a 6A school and competes in the Sunflower League. The Cougars went 2-7 this past season and have had losing seasons each of the past four years. The Cougars last made the playoffs in 2010, going 6-5.
Black and his family plan to remain in Hays for the rest of the 2nd semester, where he will serve as head track coach. His wife was also able to find a teaching position in the Shawnee Mission school district.