By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Over an 11-year period of time, not many football coaches in Kansas have the win total of Hoisington High School’s Zach Baird. Baird joined the “100-wins club” Friday, Sept. 27 after the Cardinals defeated Southwestern Heights 53-6.
“It’s a credit to this coaching staff,” said Baird. “They’re great coaches but they’re better people. They all bring their own style and their own flare to it. I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about assistant coach Matt Koelsch. He’s what I call our culture keeper. He’s constantly keeping our culture where it needs to be.”
Along with Baird and Koelsch, Kyle Haxton, Rob England and Eric Steiner round out the coaching staff for Hoisington.
“They’ll show up in the summer in the weight room, even when they’re not getting paid for it,” said Baird. “We’ve also had great administration. When we first came on, Bill Lowry (former USD 431 superintendent) and Joel Mason (former activities director, current principal) were a big part of this. It takes a village.”
With the win Friday, Hoisington is 39-2 in district play in the past 11 years under Baird. Of Hoisington High School’s 29 playoff wins in school history, 24 of them have been under Baird.
A 2003 Hoisington graduate, Baird likes how life turned out.
“At one point in time shortly after college, I thought I might be trying to go to Hays,” said Baird. “TMP had a spot open as an assistant. That’s the way life works out. I feel extremely blessed and lucky to be in Hoisington. I love it. I’m very biased toward our community and people. I couldn’t have dreamed it any bigger than what it is.”
Baird has led Hoisington to the State semifinals five times and two state runner-up finishes in 2020 and 2023. Along with a few words from Principal Mason Friday night, the team recognized Baird by giving him the game ball.
“I tell our players it’s a railroad town,” said Baird. “It’s an oil town. It’s an agriculture town. We’re made up of tough, hardworking people. That’s what we want to display and pay tribute to when we play the game.”
Listen below to the entire interview with Baird after Friday's win at Southwestern Heights.