By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sure, 1998 Topeka High graduate Geo Lyons, who was officially named the Trojans' new boys basketball coach Thursday night, had thought over the years about the possiblity of coaching at his alma mater.
Topeka High graduate Geo Lyons was approved Thursday night as the Trojans' new boys basketball coach after four seasons at Kansas City-Schlagle. [Submitted]
After all, Lyons had played at High and served as a Trojan assistant under former High coach Pat Denney.
But Lyons, who served as head coach at Kansas City-Schlagle the past four seasons, had put those thoughts in the back of his mind until Topeka High coach Ty Baumgardner stepped down in early May after one season to return to Georgia.
And suddenly Topeka High was very much back in the picture.
"I think there's a part in every coach that wants to, at some point in time, coach at their alma mater,'' Lyons told TopSports.news Thursday. "But after landing the job at Schlagle I really didn't see it happening.
"It wasn't on my radar, but it just so happened that it opened up and I got the call.''
Lyons was actually offered and accepted the Topeka High job more than two weeks ago, but the hiring wasn't official until the USD 501 School Board approved his appointment at Thursday's meeting.
"I'm ready to get rolling,'' Lyons said. "I'm ready to get in front of the boys on Monday evening. We've got the gym scheduled and I'm ready to get to work.''
The transition back to Topeka will be an easy one, considering the fact that Lyons, also a former Topeka West assistant under Chad Eshbaugh and Rick Bloomquist, has commuted to Kansas City throughout his tenure at Schlagle.
"I was making the drive to Schlagle for four years,'' Lyons said. "Bad weather days I'd stay with one of my assistant coaches, but I never left Topeka.
"Topeka has always been home. I enjoy Topeka, my boys were in Topeka and I enjoyed the school system in Topeka so that's what we wanted to continue to do.''
Topeka High is coming off tough back-to-back years, including a 4-17 record this past season, but Lyons said he sees plenty of potential in the players the Trojans have returning.
"That was one of the big factors in taking the job, that the young guys that got the experience last year and went through those bumps and bruises are going to be just that much better moving into next year,'' said Lyons, whose Schlagle team went 1-18 in 2021-2022.
"Even though we're young we're actually an experienced group and have got a great core, especially with the class that will be juniors, to work with.''
