By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
One of the first items on Ty Baumgardner's agenda when he took the Topeka High boys basketball job in May was to put together a coaching staff.
Baumgardner tapped former Atchison head coach George Ross Jr., as well as former Trojan standout Nate Wallace, who was previously an assistant at Highland Park.
And Baumgardner's pick for a third assistant was a no-brainer for him -- his father, Jerry.
Jerry Baumgardner coached Atchison, led by Kansas legend Chic Downing, to an undefeated Class 3A state championship in 1969 and he also coached at Emporia before going into administration and becoming Emporia's prinicipal. Jerry, who still lives in Emporia, journeyed to North Carolina to serve as Ty's assistant for his first two years as a head coach and was on the bench when Ty won a Class 4A state championship (North Carolina's largest class) with Charlotte's Olympic High in 2013.
"Coaching's all I've ever done and I got it from him,'' Ty Baumgardner said.
State championship coaches Ty Baumgardner (left) and his father, Jerry, are teaming up on Topeka High's boys basketball staff this winter. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
It took a little coaxing to get the 83-year-old Jerry to come on board at Topeka High, but he eventually took the plunge.
"It was Ty's idea and when he first approached me I said, 'Nah, I'm too old, see if you can't get a younger guy,' '' Jerry said. "But he just kind of kept after me and kept after me and I guess in a weak moment I said, 'OK, I'll do it, I'll try it.' ''
Jerry's decision to join Ty at Topeka High gives the Trojans three generations of Baumgardners in the program.
"He wanted to make sure that he could physically do it and I think having his grandson, Tyson, in the program as a freshman probably helped with that decision, too,'' Ty Baumgardner said.
"It's been fun, I've enjoyed it,'' Jerry said. "I do get a little tired during practice, but so far, so good. I hope I'm some help.''
Ty Baumgarder, who is also Topeka High's athletic director, took over a Trojan program that produced just four total wins last season (three at the varsity level) and Ty said his dad has had an impact on him and the rest of the staff as a steadying, calming influence.
"There's no question about it,'' said Ty Baumgardner, 371-159 as a high school coach. "That's exactly what he is and what I envisioned is him being that calming influence. When I or coach Ross or coach Wallace really gets into a kid he can kind of go behind us and pull them aside and say, 'Hey, here's what they're trying to get you to understand.' ''
"I think I'm more of a sounding board,'' Jerry said. "(Ty) runs things by me and if I have a comment or if I have some suggestion I'll make it. Obviously he makes the final decision on it.
"That's kind of been my role. I try to stay as low key as possible. He's got a couple of good assistants. Nate and George are doing an excellent job and I really appreciate them.''
But Ty said Jerry, who coached Ross' father at Atchison on the state championship team, can still get fired up when the situation calls for it.
"I'll tell you what now, there's been some days in these last few weeks, he's gotten into (the players),'' Baumgardner said. "He's voiced his concerns and opinions on some things that need to be corrected, so don't let the age fool you. (The fire) is still there. There's no question about it.''
Topeka High, which opens 2022 at Washburn Rural Tuesday night, has posted a 1-5 record thus far and, as fate would have it, the Trojans' lone victory came at Emporia, where Ty played and Jerry coached and retired as principal in 1997.
"That was an emotional evening for me, going back there after 25 years with the school district,'' said Jerry, who hired current Topeka West coach Rick Bloomquist at Emporia. "I had a lot of feelings heading into that game about whether I wanted to be on the bench or not, but as it turned out, it was nice. Beau Welch does a great job there and his kids were just wonderful. They all came over and shook my hand and that sort of thing and I really appreciated that.
"It was a nice evening and it was nice to get a victory.''
Ty Baumgardner said it's also been nice being able to share the last few weeks with a man who has had such a profound impact on his life and career.
"We're coaches, so it's been great,'' Ty said. "It's really been a blessing.''
