photo by: Courtesy photo

Nick Wood, during his tenure as a Washburn assistant, watches warmups before an exhibition game against Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse on Nov. 1, 2018.

The next face of the Lawrence High boys basketball program is a familiar one. Nick Wood, a former administrator and coach within the district, will be the team’s next head coach, the school announced on Sunday in an email to families.

Wood, previously serving as the school’s athletic director from 2020 to 2021, is next in line to lead his alma mater (’96) following the resignation of longtime coach Mike Lewis earlier this month.

A former Chesty Lion, Wood was a part of LHS’s 1995 Class 6A state championship team (21-4) under the guidance of former coach Jack Schreiner.

“I have been preparing my entire coaching career for a moment like this,” Wood said in a statement released by the LHS athletic department on Sunday. “As a member of this community and someone who has worn the Lawrence High uniform, I fully understand the responsibility that comes with this position.”

Wood brings plenty of high school and college coaching experience back to LHS.

Wood served as the head girls basketball coach at LHS from 2008 to 2014 and held that same role at Free State from 2019 to 2020. Additionally, Wood coached boys and girls basketball overseas at the American International School of Muscat in Oman from 2014 to 2018 before serving as Washburn’s assistant men’s basketball coach for the 2018-19 season.

“Nick brings with him a tremendous amount of experience to an already tremendous tradition at Lawrence High School,” LHS Athletic Director Mike Gillman said. “Nick will continue the success of our basketball program, build upon the LHS tradition of excellence and create positive relationships with our student-athletes and our community.”

Now, Wood will be undertaking a sudden coaching change for a program eager to find its first state playoff berth since 2021. In Lewis’ final season, LHS finished 17-5 and watched an exciting 2022-23 campaign end at the hands of Manhattan in the substate championship.

Wood, familiar with the school’s high expectations when it comes to basketball, is seeking to grow the game on and off the floor for students inside the boys basketball program.

“When the student athletes have finished their playing careers at LHS, my goal for them is that they have grown as individuals, learned the necessary skills to be successful as an adult, and competed for championships. In doing so, we will have continued to build on the strong tradition at Lawrence High School,” Wood said.