photo by: John Young

Former Lawrence High coach Dick Purdy waves to the crowd after being inducted into the Kansas High School Athletic Association (KSHSAA) Hall of Fame during halftime of Lawrence High's game against Olathe North in 2013.

Former Lawrence High football coach Dick Purdy, who presided over some of the most dominant high school football teams in Kansas history, died last week at a hospital in Green Valley, Arizona.

Purdy was 88.

Known on the field as a disciplinarian who coached a tough brand of football and emphasized even the smallest details, Purdy was remembered in recent days for much more than that.

“If you played for him, you understood what good work ethic was,” said former Purdy assistant Dirk Wedd, who succeeded his boss as the head coach of the Lions in 1999. “The way he coached it was almost like the kids looked forward to Friday because that was easier than anything they had done throughout the week. We had kids quit during stretching.

“He demanded so much of his players that maybe it took a year or two or 10 or 20 for them to understand why he did it. I even had some guys tell me it took them 30 or 40 years to realize what a big impact he had on their lives.”

A member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association Hall of Fame, along with a few other coaching association halls of honor, Purdy came to LHS after successful stints at both Shawnee Mission West High School and Lee’s Summit High, where he coached for a combined 21 years.

Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Purdy graduated from Baker University — where he played quarterback — and earned his master’s degree from Pittsburg State. He started his head coaching career at Chetopa High and then went on to coach Chanute High for nine seasons before coming to the northeast part of the state.

In addition to his 30 years at SM West, Lee’s Summit and Lawrence High, Purdy worked as a recruiting coordinator at the University of Kansas for Don Fambrough.

It was at the high school ranks, though, where he made his biggest splash.

He took over for legendary LHS coach Bill Freeman in 1990 and recorded a record of 84-17 during his nine seasons at LHS. That included five Class 6A state titles in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1995 and a runner-up finish in 1994.

In 41 years as a high school head coach, Purdy compiled a record of 275-140-5.

In 23 combined years at SM West and LHS, Purdy had just two losing seasons, one at each school.

The one at LHS came in 1997, when the Lions went 4-5 in the same year that Free State High opened its doors. The Lions were 5-5 in 1998, his last season, and Wedd said leading that team to that record was one of the finest coaching jobs he had ever seen.

“I’ve never seen a coach who could game plan like he could and make adjustments at halftime like he could,” Wedd said. “He loved challenges.”

He also loved his players and, just as much, loved to see what they went on to become later in life.

Several of the hundreds of players who played for Purdy at LHS took to social media in recent days to honor their late coach. Their words had little to do with wins and losses or state titles and everything to do with the relationships Purdy built with his players.

“Coach was a teacher of ‘the process’ before the process was a thing,” recalled former LHS quarterback Dain Hammerschmidt. “He was relentless in his attention to detail. He was a man that demanded class from his teams at all times, win or lose. He taught toughness and quiet confidence. He taught humility. He taught togetherness. He taught unending belief. He taught that you never quit. He made the scout team player feel as valued as the starter. He taught what it means to have the heart of a Lion. His classroom was a football field and he was the ultimate teacher.”

Added former LHS running back, Garrett Attig, a member of the Class of 1996, who played for the last LHS team to win state: “One of the best men I ever had the chance to know. A true legend. I wish I realized at the time how truly special he made our high school football experience. Back then it was just expected for LHS to make it to the state championship and win. Now I know now how special that experience was, and how important this man was to all of us.”

“He was like a dad to me,” wrote former Lion Reggie Harrison.

John Nelson, who joined Attig on the 1995 state championship team, called Purdy “an amazing coach that got on (me) when needed. He added: “Thank you coach Purdy for everything you taught me in life — hard work, dedication and being a champion.”

While the various social media tributes to Purdy drew likes and comments from countless people, many of them ended with a favorite phrase that Purdy liked to use on game nights.

“Let’s dance,” Purdy would say with his final words to the team before they hit the field.

Purdy is survived by his wife of 66 years, Norma, along with his sons, Brian and Stuart, his daughter, Pam Wright, and several other beloved friends and family members.

A celebration of life is slated for 3 p.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church of Green Valley. A recorded stream of the service will be available on the Green Valley United Methodist Church YouTube page.