ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Earlier this summer, it was announced Kerri Miles would be taking his activity director experience to Wichita and recently, USD 480 announced his replacement with Chad Friess.
As Friess tells it, he is no stranger to the work.
“Most recently, I worked in insurance as a claims adjuster and did that for three years. Prior to that, I was in coaching and education in Lee's Summit, Mo. at Summit Christian Academy, and I took that job in 2017 and was the middle school activities director as well as the middle school head football coach, PE coach and the head high school girls' basketball coach. I did that for four years and then I took over as the boys' basketball coach, taught 6th grade for a couple years, and during that time, I got my master's degree in education,” Friess said. “Prior to that, my family and I were living in Great Bend, where I ran my own basketball development program, which started with 15 players and ballooned to more than 120 from all parts of the state. Prior to that, I'd coached for two years at St. John High School, where we took the state title in 2013 and 2014, and then prior to that, I was a special education paraprofessional in Great Bend and was taking some classes through Fort Hays State University. Before that, we were living in Kansas City, where I was doing coaching. I graduated from Sterling College, where I also played basketball and got my bachelor's degree in sports management. My first two and a half years in college were focused on the education field, and then I switched to sports management. I've been on quite the roller coaster to get here, and I know I'm not the typical prototype for an activities director, but I think all my experience has positioned me really well to do some good at LHS, so I'm very thankful to be able to do this.”
It was only rather recently, Friess said, when he started thinking about making a career change.
“Last year was when I'd started poking my nose into what it would feel like to be back in a position like this. It's definitely something I felt called to in terms of being in administration and leadership – I was already very focused on coaching college basketball that I didn't really let myself think about other ways I could lead and be in that type of role,” Friess said. “So I started shifting my perspective and looking at opportunities that might open up and figuring out a way in. I happen to know someone who knows Dane [Richardson], and he referred me, and after talking, it became very clear very quickly this would be a good fit for me. I came out for the interview process and found the people to be absolutely amazing and so great, and I realized I would have a very good working relationship with these people if I were to be hired. I was offered the position, and after a lot of thought and counsel from people around me, I made the decision to accept.”
Friess said it was his desire to be part of a team that inspired him to start thinking about making a change.
“When it comes to insurance, when your house gets damaged in a storm or some other situation, the contractor comes out and says 'You need a new roof' or whatever and advises you to file a claim, and then the adjuster comes out, does an inspection and writes up the estimate for repairs. That's what I did, and it was a good job and served a good purpose, but I wasn't really passionate about it,” Friess said. “I'm definitely more driven by goals and human interaction, and I've always had a passion for athletics and other activities because that's what I did when I was in school. If you asked me when I was 15 years old what I wanted to do, I would have said 'Coaching and/or teaching.' I didn't really think at 18 or 19 years old I'd actually be teaching in a classroom, but once I taught in the classroom about five years ago, I was in love with it and just had a great time. In my insurance job, I was rather isolated and didn't really work with a team, I was mostly connected with insurers, so I was missing that interaction and team unity and camaraderie. There came a time when I couldn't really visualize what the insurance game would be like in five or 10 years, and I knew I wanted to be in a job where I was part of a team and got to interact with others. I eventually got in touch with one of my former mentors and told him I was looking for a way to transition into that type of role. It really wasn't just one thing, it was a handful of factors, but that isolation and excess of 'me' time definitely made me realize I wanted that interaction with others, and I was just being pulled to something else.”
All of that, Friess said, led to him hearing about the opening at Liberal High School.
“My best man, his dad was a principal where Dane previously was, so it's a small world. My friend's dad had taken a new job in June, and that's when I called him and said there were some hurdles here in terms of getting back into education and asked him what things were like in Texas. An opportunity came up there, but that would have meant a big move for me and my family, and it ultimately just didn't end up feeling right for me,” Friess said. “A few weeks later, this friend messaged me saying he knew Dane and told me Kerri Miles had just taken a job in Wichita and a position at LHS could be an opportunity for me. I played in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) when I was in school, so I knew a little about Liberal, but I never really saw myself in this type of position out here. But the universe works in mysterious ways, and since I'd been wanting an opportunity like this, the door was opened, and Dane's leadership really inspired me, plus the fact that there are multiple different faces at LHS starting this school year. It's a great time to be there, I feel like, and help really make some good changes. Change is just a word if you don't put any effort or work behind it, and I really want to come in and help make those needed changes and improvements and help things be as great as possible.”
And so far, Friess said, he has dove straight into the work.
“I just started Aug. 18, so I'm basically brand new still. The immediate need for me is to evaluate and learn as much as possible. I want to get my feet wet and get to know the school as well as possible and listen to everything and everyone I can,” Freiss said. “I want to know where the department currently is and then figure out where I want it to be as time goes on. It's not going to be just about me or my department, I want it to involve everyone at LHS as much as possible. On the outside, there are some needs in terms of facilities – for example, the press boxes at Redskin Field and some of those facilities need updated and beautified to draw people in. And with those types of projects, I want to know what's been talked about and/or approved by the school board and get their thoughts, because I want us all to have the same vision. I've definitely got a lot to learn, but I've got a great team around me, so I'm going to do the best I can to learn everything I can to help as much as I can.”
Even with all of that, however, Friess said he is excited to learn.
“The opportunity to be back in an athletics and educational setting is great, and I'm excited to get to know all the different head coaches for the different programs,” Freiss said. “Having been a head coach myself, I remember some things I wanted but didn't get from my AD, and I remember some things I did get, so I want to bring in that experience so I can support these coaches. At the end of the day, I want the coaches to know I'm their biggest cheerleader and will do what I can to help them and show them support. There are definitely opportunities to help enhance all of that, and I'm excited to dive into being an LHS Redskin and immersing myself into that school culture. There are so many of those opportunities, and I know there's so much tradition at LHS in terms of successful programs and athletes. My goal right now is to do everything in my power to help reinforce that standard of excellence and get back to being a total powerhouse against all of our opponents, whether it's with the football team or our music department. The best thing for me is how I'm not just the athletic director, I'm the ACTIVITIES director, meaning I'm in charge of everything around LHS. I want to know how all of our programs are doing because again, I was a very involved student when I was in school. I firmly believe athletics and other extracurricular programs are where students can succeed the most, and that bleeds into their education/academic career. There are so many people at LHS who genuinely care about the students, and I'm excited to be part of that.”
Having been a head coach himself, Friess said that will help him as the activities director.
“There are definitely times when an AD should step in and help, and I am willing to help take things off a coach's plate if necessary. When it comes to coaching, there are countless hours of work that come with no thanks or appreciation, and they deserve someone in their corner who can help hype them up and show them their work is indeed being valued,” Friess said. “I don't think people fully realize just how much unpaid overtime coaches spend – there's practice and then time spent before and after games, and then the game itself when it happens. Having an appreciation of the discipline and time management required by a coach is definitely an advantage, and I know if there's a week where a lot of events are happening, there's not really the chance for sloughing off, everything has to happen and has to go well for everyone involved. I've learned all of that as a coach and as a business owner, and all of those skills will translate into a position like this. It was always great hearing 'You're doing a great job' from my AD, and I want to be a source of support for the coaches at LHS and let them know their work is valued. I'm also not afraid to have the hard conversations, and there will be times when changes will need to be made, and I can do that too.”
Overall, Friess said, this fall should be an exciting time at LHS.
“Community support is so important to me, and I can't wait to see that here. Where I was in Kansas City, the school support was great, but since Kansas City is so massive, it wasn't quite like what I was used to when I was in school in Great Bend, which has just one high school,” Friess said. “I can't wait to help the community get behind Redskin Nation and all of our programs, because we have so many great people who are excited about what's coming up and passionate about everything. I know all the schedules are available online, so if everyone will just mark their calendars and show our young Redskins that community support, I think this fall will be amazing.”
