By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Christian Ulsaker is well-versed on Topeka area high school basketball, beginning his coaching career with stints at Washburn Rural, Hayden and Shawnee Heights before landing his first head coaching opportunity at Wabaunsee.
Christian Ulsaker
As a result, the former Washburn University player knew from that first-hand knowledge that if and when the Topeka West boys basketball job opened up, he would be interested.
When veteran coach Rick Bloomquist announced in March that he was ending his successful 12-year stint with the Chargers to follow his sons' high school careers, Ulsaker knew it was time to take a run at the West vacancy.
And on Thursday night the former McPherson All-Stater was approved by the USD 501 School Board as Topeka West's new head coach after a five-year tenure at Wabaunsee.
"I know the heritage at Topeka West,'' Ulsaker told TopSports.news Thursday night. "I was fortunate to play them at state when I was in high school when Alex North and Tyrell Brown were on that team and it was a heck of a team, so they've always intrigued me as a (USD) 501 program and I had always told my friends, 'If there's a 501 program I'd want to coach at, I think it would be Topeka West.'
"I truly enjoy the administration there and I haven't heard anything but good things said about Topeka West from people that have either worked there or been a part of the program.''
Ulsaker will take over for Bloomquist (576 career wins), who led the Chargers to winning seasons the past five years, including a berth in the Class 5A state championship game in 2021.
Topeka West is coming off a 14-8 season and will return a strong nucleus from that team.
"I tell people, 'You know what, Bloom's done a ton of stuff in the last 10 years to get that program back to a traditional winner. It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows before he came,' '' Ulsaker said.
Now Ulsaker wants to help Topeka West continue that success while putting his own stamp on the Charger program.
"I've told the people that I've talked to that I'm not re-inventing the wheel,'' Ulsaker said. "Bloom's done a phenomenal job there and the cupboard's not bare by any means.''
Ulsaker, a special education teacher, said the first order of business will be to get to know his new team.
"My goal right now is to get in front of the players, introduce myself to them next week, and let them get to know me and build a relationship,'' Ulsaker said.
Ulsaker posted a 58-54 record at Wabaunsee, with three .500 or better seasons and a state runnerup finish in the 2021 Class 2A state tournament.
"I've seen what I can do at a 1A-2A level, and I'm a very competitive person, so I want to be able to coach the best players in Kansas and I think Topeka West can give that to me,'' Ulsaker said.
