photo by: Nick Krug

Lawrence High assistant coach Adam Green gives his team some words of encouragement in the third inning against Shawnee Mission West during the first round of the 6A state championships at Hoglund Ballpark on Friday, May 27, 2011.

The head baseball coach at Lawrence High School isn’t like any other gig for Adam Green. It’s the school he graduated from that helped him play college baseball at Kansas State, and it’s the school he’s been an assistant coach at for years.

The job means a little more. Green grew up in an era in which the Lions dominated the state, and he’s seen what the program can do at its peak. However, the relationships with players and the community are just as meaningful, and Green hopes to continue the tradition of a family that grew under former coach Brad Stoll.

“What we’ve done within the Lawrence High baseball community over the last 20 years is establish a bit of a brotherhood, and that, to me, is at the forefront of why I wanted this job,” Green said. “I’ve got relationships with guys who are starting to have children. That’s important. They’re all welcome to come out to practice, and hopefully, we’ll make them proud of the program.”

Green is in a better position than many new head coaches — he already knows his team, and they know him well. As he builds the program to his image, both sides already understand each other.

Green started coaching football and baseball in 2005 at Lawrence High and coached at Free State from 2001-2005 under current Firebirds coach Mike Hill. The upcoming school year will be the first year he won’t be coaching football as he dedicates his full time to the baseball program.

Even though Green has coached with Stoll since 2005, there will be some changes for the team. As Green says, following up a longtime coach who has meant a lot to the city’s baseball scene will be challenging. The legacy that Stoll left is something that he’ll hope to keep around.

“I don’t know if there’s a better person in terms of human-to-human interaction than Brad,” Green said. “I will try to take what I learned from him in dealing with not only players but coaches, umpires… all stakeholders.”

The Lions have almost completed their summer workouts, and things have gone well with solid attendance. Green anticipates a senior-led team this year, even with a mostly young roster.

Green expects the Sunflower League to continue to have tough competition. The league has the 5A defending champions, Mill Valley, the defending 6A champions, Olathe South, and a 25-1 regular-season team, Olathe West. The Lions will also compete against their crosstown rival, Free State, which has finished third in the 6A tournament for three years.

Under Green, the Lions will look to create a culture that can thrive in an era of open enrollment in Kansas, which adds a new wrinkle to the head coach job. They have to build a program that attracts kids over schools in the area.

“KSHSAA just enacted new legislation that there are no boundaries now,” Green said, “so you’re really competing with all of the regional schools, and kids can have choices of where they go to school. We have a competitive baseball league and a competitive baseball city. You have to bring it.”

But Green is ready for the challenge. With his time under Stoll, years of experience coaching in the league, and passion for the city, the Lions will continue to have the leadership at the top of the program to succeed.