The decision to leave the Iola Mustang football program and accept the head coaching position at Baldwin High School was not an easy one for Doug Kerr, but he takes solace in leaving the program in a much better place than he found it.
“We weighed the pros and cons of both jobs,” Kerr said. “It was a really, really hard decision to make because we really feel rooted in Iola. The people have just been amazing and I think the program is heading in the right direction. The cupboard is full and there is a lot of excitement about next season. I feel good about the things we accomplished, but this is just an opportunity to put my family in a situation to be closer to a bigger city.”
Kerr spent the past five seasons working to build the Mustang program to a level where it could compete for championships. This past season they tied for the district title — losing out to Girard by point differential — and qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
“They have so much momentum going into next year,” Kerr said. “Ten days ago, we were talking about how we should be the district champions and we should complete for the league championship. That is my proudest accomplishment. We turned it around and got the excitement to stay.”
On the surface, the next few seasons appear ripe with possibility as well, with playmakers like Tayton Driskel, Isaac Vink, Tyler Garner and Ethan Holloway returning to the offensive core and a dynamic defense that figures to be led by the likes of Evan Sigg and Cale Barnhart. Add into that mix a freshman class that has never lost a middle school game and it is easy to see why the decision to leave hurt so much for Kerr.
“It was really tough to talk to the kids today and talk to Mr. (Stacey) Fager (Iola’s principal, who will be the superintendent next year),” Kerr said. “The kids have been amazing. The administration has been amazing and the people in the community have been amazing.”
While leaving Iola was tough, the coach — who has also led the Iola golf team and assisted with the track and field teams during his tenure — believes that this is ultimately the best decision for his family.
“It is close to Lawrence, a college community,” Kerr said. “My daughter likes to do year-round swimming and they have an indoor facility in Lawrence that she can swim for. There are just tons of little things that make this final decision better for our family.”
Kerr also looks forward to being able to focus solely on coaching football in Baldwin, where they play on Baker University’s field, and not be required to divide his attention from the actual X’s and O’s of coaching.
“I will just be coaching football and the weight room, so I can just focus on one thing, which was appealing to me,” Kerr said. “They have a situation where the middle school and high school are right there together so I’ll have some autonomy over the 7-12 program.”
An added bonus for Kerr is being closer to Lawrence where David Beatty is the head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks.
Beatty and Kerr went to school together at Lindenwood University. Kerr will also be closer to Chiefs’ wide receiver Albert Wilson, whom Kerr coached in Florida before coming to Iola.
For Iola, the immediate focus shifts to finding a replacement for Kerr.
“We are grateful for all of Coach Kerr’s efforts here at Iola High School,” Fager said. “We feel like with where the program is at now, we will be able to attract a very qualified applicants.”
Fager says the search for a new coach will include in-house candidates familiar with the program, but also outside options.
“We have some vacancies right now with teaching positions, so we will evaluate all of our candidates and try to find the best fit for teaching and ultimately who will become our next football coach,” Fager said.
Kerr says ‘cupboard is full’ for next Mustangs football coach
