Each month, Eagle Radio in Great Bend is recognizing groups or individuals that make a big impact on our community. This Appreciation Month is highlighting coaches.
By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Enjoying the mountain life in Leadville, Colorado, Greg Maxwell grew up
fishing and hunting all the time. He was able to express his love for the
outdoors through another one of his passions…drawing.
“Art has been a passion of mine since I was a kid and it’s a way I connect with the outdoors,” said Maxwell. “I do a lot of outdoor paintings that reflect on
experiences and anticipation of hunts.”
Maxwell also strongly enjoys sports and used to draw and paint sports scenes
but found a different outlet to appreciate athletics. Maxwell has served as an
art teacher at Ellinwood High School and a coach for nearly 25 years.
“As a coach, I get so much sports in my life, I like the outlet of the outdoors
when I paint or draw,” said Maxwell.
Maxwell made his journey to Kansas following high school as he played football
at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. Maxwell’s sister played basketball at
Bethany and he noted he enjoyed the Kansas lifestyle mentality.
“I played for Hall of Fame coach Ted Kessinger,” said Maxwell. “We won four
conference championships. That gave me my confidence moving into my own
coaching career.”
After Bethany, Maxwell accepted the art teaching position in Ellinwood in 1997
and has been there since. He currently coaches high school volleyball, golf and
middle school girls basketball.
“I was attracted to the Ellinwood job because of the art and coaching
positions, but also the outdoors aspect,” said Maxwell. “I was a big waterfowl
hunter coming out of college so that fit well.”
The volleyball team at Ellinwood High School has experienced a lot of success
under Maxwell, finishing 31-5 and as the Central Prairie League champions this
past season. Despite the success, volleyball is the newest coaching endeavor for
Maxwell.
“I have two daughters and one of them was playing in a recreation commission match,” said Maxwell. “I told my wife if our daughter was going to choose volleyball, I was going to have to coach it. Anything my kids do, I expect them to do at the highest level. In order for that to happen, I knew I had to get involved.”
Maxwell started coaching volleyball at the rec level, then a club team, became
the middle school coach, spent one year as the assistant at Ellinwood High
School before taking over as head coach.
Maxwell’s oldest daughter now plays volleyball at Barton Community College and
the youngest is a sixth grader.
“I love coaching my own daughters,” said Maxwell. “The ability to see
confidence building in your own daughter is phenomenal. “That confidence
carries off the court and takes her in other aspects of life.”
Coming into the sport of volleyball as a baseline learner, Maxwell said he’s
very open-minded to feedback and advice to improve as a coach.
“I try to learn from references and people at any level that understand the
game,” said Maxwell. “Wichita State University has played a big part. Coach
Alan Segal at Barton has been tremendously helpful and other coaches we’ve seen
at camps.”
Maxwell claims to be a better coach in volleyball because he learned the sport
from the ground up.
“I understand volleyball from a much deeper level,” said Maxwell. “In
everything else that I coach, I played. I find myself being a little more
close-minded in some of those sports because it’s just the way I know it and
the way I did it.”
Like all coaches, Maxwell understands the time sacrifice but also recognizes
the importance of what he does.
“I knew when our kids got into this, that’s what we’d be doing for the next 15
years,” said Maxwell. “Our kids have one chance to experience this and they
deserve our very best. We’ll find our time later on.”
Maxwell’s successes have seen several individual golfers qualify for the state
tournament and the Eagles volleyball team advancing to the state tournament in
2018, ending a 21-year drought in state appearances.
“When those kids commit to you and truly trust in the credibility you have and
they get to see those rewards…that’s pretty cool.”
Read the previous Appreciation Month stories by clicking HERE.