A former Cougar tennis player himself, Lyle Stickney begins his eighth season leading the Barton tennis program.

While at Barton, Stickney’s women’s teams have qualified for the NJCAA tournament three times (2012, 2014 and 2015) with a best placing of 15th this past season. On the men’s side, the Cougars finished 12th in the nation in 2014.

Stickney entered the coaching ranks at Ellinwood High School, leading the girls program since 1989 and formerly headed the boys program from 1995-2009.  During this run Stickney has had 57 boys and 84 girls qualify for the state tournaments, with four regional titles and six top-5 state finishes on the boys side (three team runners-up) and six regional titles and seven top-5 placings for the girls.  In 2011 his Lady Eagles captured the Class 3-2-1A Team Championship. Additionally, Stickney was twice named 3A Coach of the Year.

An Ellinwood, Kansas, native, Stickney continued his playing career at Fort Hays State University, graduating with a Business Administration bachelor’s degree in 1984.