Kayser resigns post as head women's basketball coach at Barton
Barton County Community College women's head basketball coach Don Kayser announced his resignation Thursday afternoon, effective at the end of this basketball season. Coach Kayser is in his 4th season at the helm of the Cougar team and has a career record of 54-63 as the coach of the Cougars heading into Saturday contest in Liberal.
"It's hard to pinpoint and describe the reason, timing or feeling of why I'm leaving," Coach Kayser said. "But I think it's the right decision for my family and for Barton County Community College. I feel we've done things the right way by bringing in student-athletes with great character. We've held them accountable on and off the basketball court and put them in position to learn great lessons in life.
"They've excelled in the classroom. We've had a few Academic All-Americans and nearly a 100% graduation rate. Unfortunately these successes don't always equate to wins on the basketball floor. We will continue to do our best this season, improve as a team and vie for the highest play-off and results in the post-season"
During his 4-plus year stint so far, the Cougars have earned one trip to the Region VI semifinals. Barton lost to Seward County in the 2001 semifinals, ending a 21-12 season for Barton in Coach Kayser's initial year with the Cougars.
"I would like to thank Coach Kayser both personally and for the college for the time and effort that he put into our women's basketball program," Barton County Athletic Director Neil Elliott said. "Coach Kayser is a very good person and is well liked by the campus community.
"Although the program did not experience the success that all of us would have liked on the court, Coach Kayser recruited quality young women who always represented the college in a positive manner and also did very well in the classroom. We look forward to Coach Kayser guiding the team to a strong finish through the rest of this season and wish him well in his future endeavors."
Coach Kayser will concentrate on the remainder season, then look at his options.
"I wish my players that will be at Barton next year and the players moving on the best of luck. They are a special group of kids," Coach Kayser said. "I still believe that the best is yet to come for them.
"I want to thank the people in the Great Bend area for the great support they've given us for the last four years and the people at Barton County Community College for giving me this great opportunity. I wish everyone the best of luck in the future."
The search for a new coach at Barton County will begin right away, according to Elliott.
"We will immediately begin the search for a new coach in hopes to give whomever we hire the best opportunity possible to recruit for next years team," Elliott said. "Although I am unable to give an exact timetable on when a new coach will be hired, I can assure you that we will do everything in our power to put the program in a position to be successful next year and into the future."