Erin Beck was hired Tuesday as Great Bend High School’s head football coach and to teach physical education.
Beck was an assistant coach at GBHS in the past, and his wife Cindy (Keeley) Beck was a teacher at Great Bend Middle School before they moved away. Most recently he was the defensive coordinator for the football team at Truman High School in Independence, Mo., a 6A school.
Superintendent Brad Reed said there were 25 applicants for the job of Great Bend’s head football coach.
“We did a very extensive search,” Reed said. There was a search committee that allowed for input from the community, coaches and other staff, but Reed also did his own research, as did Activities Director David Meter and the coaches. “There were four independent pathways and he was Number One on all four. Erin’s the right pick for us to lead our football program.”
Beck will meet the community at 8 a.m. Wednesday in the GBHS Auditorium. “We’re excited to be back in the community,” he said Tuesday.
Reed acknowledged that the head football coach is a high-profile position that is important to the community. But the goal for the administration went beyond finding a winning coach.
“We want to hire good coaches who are outstanding people.”