photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State boys soccer coach Tyson Heck talks with his team ahead of Free State's 3-2 home loss to Shawnee Heights on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

Tyson Heck spent the last few years as an assistant coach for Free State soccer, working with junior varsity teams. So when the head coaching position opened up, it was the opportunity he was looking for.

“Stepping into this was kind of my long-term goal,” Heck said. “A lot of things are new, but the level of competition in my heart is always the same.”

Heck was a part of Perry-Lecompton High School’s first soccer team back when he was in high school. Once he graduated, Heck returned to the school as an assistant coach and has been coaching the game ever since.

“I went back the next season and coached the JV team,” Heck said. “A few years later, I started a family and my boys wanted to play soccer, so, I was like, ‘There’s a sport I know.’ I coached them when they were little, and then I started coaching club.”

Heck brings 14 years of club soccer coaching experience to Free State from when he was with the Sporting Kaw Valley youth club. He’s also done some coaching in the Kansas Premier Soccer League, which has taken him around the country and has helped him continue to learn the game.

“I always tell them, you can’t stop learning,” Heck said. “If you’re not constantly learning, there’s no reason to keep going. The boys teach me new looks all the time on the field. Coaching club got me licensed nationally. I’m constantly rounding out my education on the soccer field.”

Jumping over to the head coaching position at the high school level brings a lot of new administrative tasks, but Heck has had the help of his players. Eli Stone, a senior, was particularly helpful over the summer. With Heck working during the day, Stone helped orchestrate morning training sessions, while Heck handled the evening weight and training sessions.

Stone is one of the senior leaders whom Heck has seen take a strong leadership role with the team. Having those players step up has been beneficial for the team and coaching staff.

Heck entered the season with a strong relationship with the players based on his time as their assistant coach and from his time in club soccer.

“A lot of these boys that are seniors now I’ve coached since they were tiny tots,” Heck said. “This is kind of coming full circle.”

Now leading the team, Heck has set his standards for how he wants the Firebirds to look and act both on and off the field. As a high school coach, personal development for his players is important for his program.

“Each and every game should be an improvement for us,” Heck said. “Ultimately we have a good mix of age groups — we’re not super heavy on seniors. Each and every game is going to get better for them, and the more cohesive they get, the better they play.

“It’s always about growth on the field is growth in life, and how we take it away and what we do on the field is always important.”