Former Lawrence High track and field coach Scott Stidham rang in 2007 with an award honoring his triumphant 2006 season.

The Kansas Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Assn. will present him with the 6A boys coach of the year award Saturday in Junction City. Stidham led the Lions to the 2006 6A state championship in track and field.

“I was pretty surprised,” Stidham said. “There are so many quality coaches across the state of Kansas.”

Before becoming a decorated coach, Stidham was an accomplished football player and runner at LHS. A sprinter who competed in the 100 meters, the 200 and the 4×100 relay, he helped the Lions capture their first boys state track title in 1989. Stidham then enrolled at the University of Tennessee-Martin, where he played wide receiver.

After serving one year as a graduate assistant for his alma mater’s football program, he returned to Lawrence High in 1994 as an assistant football and track coach. In 2005 he became head coach of the track and field team.

“The success he had as a young athlete – he wanted to share that same enthusiasm for the sport,” LHS athletic director Ron Commons said.

Stidham, who also taught a directed studies class at LHS for students needing extra help, credits his coaching acumen to a long list of successful Lions coaches, including Bill Freeman, Dick Purdy, Jerry Skakal and Dirk Wedd. He learned not to make excuses for poor performances and the importance of combing through the details.

“We needed every little thing to win state,” Stidham said.

Indeed, his 4×400 relay team ran two seconds faster than it had all year as senior anchor Nathan Hickey surged to help the Lions beat Garden City by a tenth of a second in the final event of last year’s state meet in Wichita. Senior Scott Penny also played a crucial role, winning the gold in both the shot put and discuss.

“We had tremendous seniors that wanted to be successful,” Stidham said. “And they’re work ethic was just amazing.”

Although Stidham received his honor for coaching the boys track and field athletes, he also led the LHS girls to a second-place finish at state.

“They haven’t gotten the credit they deserved,” Stidham said. “They only put banners up at Lawrence High for winning a state championship, which is why it’s so special.”

Shortly after the 2006 school year, Stidham left that “special” school, accepting a job as an assistant football coach and a wellness teacher for physical education and health at Liberty High in Jackson, Tenn.

The position allowed him to move closer to his wife Stacy’s family. When he informed Commons – who plans to announce the Lions’ new track coach this month – of his decision, the athletic director understood his desire to raise his three kids closer to Stacy’s parents.

“I told him it would be foolish not to go,” Commons said. “He’s a class young man, and we’re sorry he’s not at Lawrence High School, but we wish him and his family the best.”

Stidham, however, grappled with leaving LHS, where he savored memories as a student, athlete and a coach.

“Absolutely it was a tough decision,” he said. “I enjoy (Liberty High). It’s a great place to be and it’s a great school to work at, but it’s not Lawrence High.”