By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Shane Holtzman is adding to his workload at Labette County High School of Altamont, Kan.
Assistant principal Holtzman has been named the head football coach of the Grizzlies for 2010.
Holtzman, a 1988 graduate of Labette County, replaces Craig Hartman. Hartman stepped down after 16 years as head coach.
“I want to lighten the load,” Hartman said. “I hope things continue to be good for Grizzly football.”
Hartman will continue as LCHS head boys track coach.
Hartman laughed when asked if he would miss coaching football. He’s taking the wait-and-see approach.
“I’ve always coached football,” he said. “Football is year-round. I just don’t know. ... ”
Hartman, a 1973 graduate of Clay Center High School, attended Cloud County Community College of Concordia for two years before securing his undergraduate degree at Southwestern of Winfield. He was a quarter-miler in track at both schools.
Hartman began in the Labette County system with a two-year stint at Edna. He was freshman football coach at LC for one year before assisting Jesse Ybarra — the current athletic director — for six years.
“We had a lot of good player and a lot of good years,” Hartman said of the last 16. “I believe we had 11 winning seasons, eight trips to the playoffs and six district titles. I believe we had a winning record against all teams in the SEK except for Fort Scott and Pittsburg.”
Craig and Leslie’s oldest son, Caleb, is an assistant football coach at Arkansas City High School. But sons Josh and Luke are studying architecture and chemical engineering, respectively, at Kansas State.
Holtzman, 39, was born in Chanute and was a quarterback-cornerback for three years at Labette County for Bob Holman. He played basketball at Labette Community College in Parsons before earning his undergraduate degree from Kansas State.
Holtzman ironically began his teaching career for USD #506 at Edna in 1994 He’s been at Labette County during his career except for one year at Parsons High School in 2005-06 as assistant principal. He returned to LC the following year.
Holtzman’s previous coaching duties at LC include nine years in football, 11 in basketball and three as head baseball coach.
Shane’s dad, the late Bob Holtzman, taught and coached at Altamont Grade School as well as similar duties and serving as principal at Bartlett and LCHS during his career. From Thayer, the elder Holtzman also coached at Thayer and Stark. Shane’s mom, Linda, lives in Altamont after a teaching career.
Shane Holtzman is married to the former Amy Jo Kendall (an LC graduate). They have one child, Kendall, 4.
“It’s always been a goal,” Holtzman said of taking the reins. “I took a different route. I never lost the desire.”
Said Ybarra in a prepared statement: “Coach Holtzman brings a passionate, inspirational and challenging perspective as our new head coach. I have seen that in him as he has grown from player to teacher and coach. He possesses that intangible ‘feel’ for the game that only comes from having played the game and being a consistent student of the game.
“Coach Holtzman is respected as a meticulous and innovative strategist and intense competitor,” Ybarra said.
