By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Tim Weiser and Ray Bechard, a couple of Great Bend boys, were back in town this past weekend.
Weiser recently retired as the Deputy Commissioner of the Big 12 Conference and Bechard recently retired as the head volleyball coach at the University of Kansas. After spending time together in the dorms at Barton Community College as student athletes, playing competitive matches of ping pong, Weiser joked the two of them are proof things will turn out okay for anyone.
Bechard presented for Weiser as the former Barton baseball player was inducted into the Barton Sports Hall of Fame this past Saturday.
"I really did not have a whole lot of motivation for the academic side of life," said Weiser. "I was more interested in playing baseball. Having a chance to play at Barton and stay at home was a perfect thing for me. Frankly, I was not ready as a freshman to leave Great Bend."
Weiser pitched for the Cougars from 1976 to 1978 and went on to play at Emporia State University. His goal upon graduation was to become an academic advisor for student athletes and was able to begin that career at Wichita State University. With changes at WSU, Weiser was introduced to the athletics side more which started his path as athletic director at Austin Peay University, Eastern Michigan University and Colorado State University.
Weiser was excited to get closer to home when he accepted the athletic director position at Kansas State University where he served from 2001 to 2008.
"That athletic director job is a tough job," said Weiser. "It's way tougher now than it was then. I really realized early on that it was being able to stand up and take responsibility when either coaches or student athletes made a mistake. They could be very lonely jobs at times, but I can still remember the football game in Kansas City where K-State beat Oklahoma and that will forever be one of the greatest memories."
Weiser then served as the Big 12 Conference Deputy Commissioner from 2008 until his recent retirement last December. Weiser is also a member of the Great Bend High School Hall of Fame.
Lacy (Frees) Draznik and Natchapol Srinoon were also inducted into the 2025 class for the Barton Sports Hall of Fame.
Listen below to the full interview with Weiser (2/15/25).