Pittsburg High School’s athletic director Jeff Staley received the Administrator of the Year award from the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association. 

In order for Staley to receive this award, wrestling coach LC Davis had to nominate him. One administrator is chosen from each class (6A, 5A, 4A, etc.) and gender.

“I had to fill out an application and state why I felt he was deserving of the award,” Davis said. “I nominated him for Boys and Girls Admin of the Year for the last three or four seasons.”

Staley has supported the wrestling program by trusting Davis to build a subfloor plan in the wrestling room, hiring the coaches Davis wants and needs, showing the Crosstown Throwdown in front of the entire school and supporting student-athletes. 

“Our program has grown tremendously the last six to seven seasons and definitely would not have made those leaps without Jeff Staley’s support,” Davis said

Although PHS has received academic awards from the KWCA, Staley is the first staff member to receive Administrator of the Year. 

“In the wrestling world, it’s as high of an honor as I can receive as an administrator, ” Staley said. “So I’m very proud of it.” 

Before receiving this award, Staley was unaware that he had been nominated by the wrestling coaches. 

“I was surprised to say the least,” Staley said. “To find out that I had won an award I didn’t even know I was nominated for was very surprising, but in a good way.”

Because this is Staley’s last year at PHS, it was his last opportunity to receive an award like this which makes it even more special. 

“You don’t do what I do for awards and recognition,” Staley said. “You do it for kids. For 38 years I’ve done this for kids and to have somebody give me a little plaque that says job well done, means probably more to me than it does to most.”