Baxter Springs hires Jeff McCoy to be the school's next head football coach.

BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. - Baxter Springs High School has named Jeff McCoy as the school's next head football coach. Extension Spring

McCoy has been an assistant coach for the Lions the last three seasons, coaching the wide receivers and defensive backs.

"We're going to play fast and we're going to play aggressive. We're going to bring some excitement to what we're going to do," McCoy says on what he plans to bring to the team as the new head coach, "The main thing I'm about is giving maximum effort, having a great attitude, having great character and being tough. We want to be a tough football team."

He takes over for Russell Burr, who was the Lions' head coach for the last two seasons.

Baxter Springs was 0-9 in his first year in 2021, before showing some signs of life and turning things around with a 3-win season in 2022.

"I learned a lot from coach Burr. He took this thing over a few years ago when it was in pretty bad shape. Thankfully he stepped in and took that role on, and has gotten the needle moving in the right direction," McCoy says of coaching under Burr, "We just want to continue to move that needle. We don't just want to go out there and compete, we want to win. We don't want to just be in games, we want to win games. I think we'll have the ability to do that."

McCoy has made previous coaching stops in Picher, Oklahoma and also at NEO. 

He played at NEO from 1999-2000, before transferring to Pittsburg State to finish his college career from 2001-2002. He was part of the 2001 MIAA champion Pitt State team.

His entire football career has been right here in the 4-state area.

"We live here. I've got kids in the school system. The community support is great," McCoy says of why he has stayed in the area, "Administration is on board and helps us with what we need. It's just a great town, really. It's an exciting time right now."

McCoy now turns his attention to his first season, aiming to compete in a tough CNC league that features some of the best programs in the state.

"It's a very tough league to play in and compete in," McCoy says, "You talk about teams like Galena who has had a lot of success over there. You talk about Girard. I had the privilege of playing with coach Philpot at Pitt State. Those are just a couple of the teams in the CNC that you would like to model yourselves after. They're tough and aggressive, and that's the way we want to be."

Jeff McCoy has been an assistant coach for the Lions for the last three seasons.

Originally from Yates Center, Kansas, Jacob joined KOAM in May 2013, first as a news assistant, reporter, Sports Anchor/Reporter and now Sports Director. He graduated from Pittsburg State in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Communication, Broadcasting emphasis. Jacob took over as the Sports Director in June 2015. He is married, and has one child.  

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