This award was created to honor the longtime coach at Bishop Miege, Blue Valley North

and St.Thomas Aquinas high schools, in addition to prior positions as head coach           and athletic director at St. Benedict's College (now Benedictine College).

In his more than 40-year career, Tom taught and coached more than 7,500 students and

athletes, and inspired dozens of former students and players to pursue teaching and 

coaching careers.

Tom passed away in 2002, but his influence can still be felt throughout the greater 

Kansas City basketball scene.  His former assistant coaches and players include Sean Reilly, Ed Fritz, Mark Huppe, Bill O'Connor and Doug Bruce.

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John Sedler, 2022 Recipient

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John Sedler’s career in high school education as a teacher, coach and administrator

spanned a total of 43 years (36 in Missouri and 7 in Kansas).  During this time, he spent 12 years as teacher, 31 years as an Athletic Director, and 16 years as a basketball coach.

 

He is a lifelong resident of the Kansas City and played high school basketball at Park Hill followed by four years as a basketball player at Park University.

 

Sedler began his career in 1978 at Maryville High School as a teacher and an assistant basketball coach and also coached baseball.  After one year, he was named the Head Boys Basketball coach and served in that position for the next three years before accepting a teaching and head boys basketball coach position at Park Hill High School.

 

In 1994, Sedler was named Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Park Hill while remaining the basketball coach for two more seasons.  In 1998 he helped open Park Hill South High School as an Assistant Principal and Athletic Director and spent some time serving as the athletic director at both high schools.  During his time at Park Hill South, he spent one season as the interim boys basketball coach.

 

He retired from the Park Hill School District in 2013 but didn’t stay retired long as he was named an Administrator and Athletic Director at De Soto High School for the next school year. In 2015 he became the Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Gardner Edgerton where he served for the next five years.

 

Sedler was named the MIAAA District Athletic Director of the Year inn 2005 and was inducted into the Park Hill School District Hall of Fame in 2009.  He is known as an Ambassador for Kansas City basketball and is recognized as a great speaker and clinician.  In addition, his reputation and expertise as an administrator has garnered him many opportunities to speak to colleagues around the state on developing and managing high school athletic programs.

                                 

Past Recipients

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2019  Jim Rusconi

2018  Mark Huppe

2017  Mike Etnire

2016  Mike Gailey

2015  Mike Miller

2014  Joel Heider

2013  Mike Brinsko

2012  Joe Grantham

2011  Roger Jackson

2010  Jack Smith

2009  Tom Goddard

2008  Walt Shublom

2007  Jim Draper

2006  Lee Kariker
2005  Norm Schmidt
2004  Keith Lindsay
2003  Lafayette Norwood
2002  Jim Gurley

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