02/01/08
On his first day on the job, David Foltz instinctively took two quick steps toward the baseline when Perry-Lecompton High School’s head basketball coach Jeff Dickson bellowed, “Get on the line.”
Remembering that he is on the other side of the fence now, the slightly embarrassed, newly appointed head coach of the Kaws freshman basketball team sheepishly returned to mid-court to join the rest of the coaching staff.
“It was pretty funny,” Foltz said. “I guess that just shows how young of a coach I really am; it has not been very long since I was in (the players’) shoes.”
Now in his second season as the freshman head coach, it’s safe to say the Baker sophomore won’t be making that mistake again. As his team has bolted out of the gate to an 8-3 record, it appears the kid that Dickson signed not even a full semester out of college, is the man now.
“I knew coach Foltz could be a good coach after talking to him for five minutes his senior year,” Dickson said. “He is such an impressive person-so grounded, so intelligent and so intense.”
A three-sport athlete at Perry-Lecompton, Foltz said it was an honor to be asked to coach at his alma mater. Along with coaching the freshmen, Foltz has been assigned the task of assisting both the JV and varsity teams as well. This, as any Perry-Lecompton native will attest, means he has been given the daunting task of helping to turn around a program that was in dire need of success.
“Coach Foltz offers so much to our program,” Dickson said. He saw the program and was a part of the program as a player when things weren’t going well, and he has been a huge part of helping turn this thing around. He offers so much energy and knowledge. I just hope I can keep him around for as long as I can.”
To say the program has struggled in the past would be quite the understatement. In fact, prior to the Dickson (and Foltz) era, the Kaws boys’ basketball team has had just two winning seasons since the Reagan administration. Now, in just his third season at PLHS, coach Dickson has his varsity boys first in the Kaw Valley League, Foltz said.
“Right now the varsity boys are 14-1 and first place in the conference,” he added. “That’s a pretty cool accomplishment considering we’re also the smallest school in the league.”
While all of this early coaching success is certainly a story in itself, the real story on Foltz lies in the juggling act he calls the rest of his life.
“(Foltz) is so busy; I never see him,” Foltz’s roommate sophomore Kome Okiomah said. “It seems like he’s never here-between classes, football workouts and driving to Perry and back every day, I don’t see how he ever gets his homework done.”
Okiomah needn’t worry, however. Through four semesters at Baker, the business management major has maintained a 4.0 GPA.
“This semester I’m taking 18 hours,” Foltz said. “I have had to schedule my classes around my commitment to the basketball team at Perry and the football team at Baker.”
Foltz, one of the quarterbacks for Mike Grossner’s football team, said Grossner has been extremely supportive of his decision to coach high school basketball.
“Luckily, our off-season workouts begin at 6 a.m., so I don’t have to miss conditioning with the team,” Foltz said. “If there is a conflict, Coach Grossner has allowed me to do the workouts, like lifting, on my own.”
Between 18 hours of courses and basketball practice from 3:15 p.m. to 6 p.m., one would think the editor of “Organized Living” might even struggle to find time for Foltz to lift weights, but he swears making time isn’t too overwhelming.
“If I have to, I’ll just stay after practice at Perry and use their facilities,” he said. “Or I can do it between my 6 a.m. workout and my first class, which starts at 8:30.”
Foltz said he truly doesn’t mind the hustle and bustle of his days. Coaching, he said, has been a real blessing. It seems the only thing that disgruntles Foltz in his high-stress, on-the-move life is the time he spends in his car.
“Driving is the worst part of the job. It’s 45 minutes both ways, so I generally spend about $125 a week on gas,” he said. “Seeing the kids’ progress in the game of basketball makes it completely worth it, though.”
While his Jeep Grand Cherokee may not be thanking him, coach Dickson and the rest of the PLHS basketball faithful undoubtedly are.
“He understands what is important about athletics and what makes any sport and team special,” Dickson said. “He comes from a background and a family based on hard work, doing things the right way and achieving through your own effort and sweat. He is one of the most impressive people I have ever been around.”
Foltz attributes all of his triumphs to his parents, as they have made him the person he is today.
After this season, Foltz will trade his cap and whistle for an orange helmet and pads for next year’s football campaign. This time, there will be no hesitation when coach Grossner yells to, “Get on the line.”