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| Kueser’s pain doesn’t stop passion |
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| Sports - Louisburg | |||
| Written by Andy Brown | |||
| Wednesday, 14 January 2009 08:00 | |||
It has been more than four months now, and Matt Kueser still feels the pain. For nine years, Matt, who graduated from Louisburg High School in 1992, worked under Gardner-Edgerton boys’ basketball coach Don Bechard. Matt, who had a great love for basketball before his arrival in Gardner, became even more in love with the sport thanks to the legendary coach.Bechard, who coached both boys’ basketball and volleyball during his time at Gardner, won a state championship in both sports and was the only Kansas coach to ever do so. He amassed more than 500 victories in volleyball and more than 400 in basketball. Matt knew he still had a lot to learn about the sport, and Bechard was his guide to what Matt hoped would be a head coaching job some day. But he never thought he would be taking over for his mentor. Not like this. On Sept. 5, 2008, Bechard succumbed to a two-year battle with cancer, just three days after he was elected to the Gardner Athletic Hall of Fame. The school, and several of Bechard’s former students, were grief-stricken and Matt was no exception. “It is still hard,” Matt said trying to fight back tears. “It is hard trying to get over the loss we had. It is tough on the guys because they were close to him and so was I. I spent nine years with him and he taught me so much.” The district, still saddened by the passing of coach Bechard, had to find a replacement in a hurry since the season started in less than three months. The obvious choice — Matt Kueser.  Matt was thrown into the fire, and he knew with this position could come a lot of scrutiny. He would be known as the replacement of a legend. A position he isn’t going to take lightly. The school district gave Matt the title of interim head coach and it decided it would conduct a broader search next season when more time was available. Whether Matt will be up for that job is unclear, even to him. “I feel like every game we play is an interview for me,” he said. “I have some big, big shoes to fill and I don’t know that I can fill them. Everyone here still misses him a great deal. It is tough at times.” Whether or not the players would adapt to Matt’s coaching style was quickly answered Friday night in his return home. Matt helped the Blazers in a 77-43 rout of his alma mater and he had several family members in the stands rooting him on. “This one feels really good,” Matt said. “The players knew this game was important to me, obviously with me growing up here. We didn’t talk a whole lot about it, but they wanted to play and get this win for me and that is pretty special.” This marks the second time this school year that Matt has helped bring a Gardner team to town and walked away with a big win. Earlier this season, the Gardner football team shut out Louisburg with Matt on the sidelines, and needless to say, he probably isn’t gaining any fans from his hometown. “I have a lot of great memories here,” Matt said. “It feels great to come back home, and even better to come out with a win like this. With me being a head coach, it makes it even more so.” The road hasn’t exactly been smooth for Matt or his team this year. The Blazers currently have a 3-4 record on the season with several close losses to bigger schools. It has taken awhile for the Blazers to come together as a team, but they seemed to put it all together Friday. But it was those close losses that left Matt thinking about his old friend and mentor. “After losing a game or two by a couple of points, I wish (Bechard) he was here with me to tell me what I did wrong or to give me advice,” Matt said. “I could have really used him in those games. At times, though, it feels like he is still with me.” His wish is to take over the program Bechard left behind and continue the same winning tradition he did. But Matt also knows the clock is ticking. As he left Louisburg High School Friday, Matt knew this game was just one of a few chances to show the people of Gardner he has what it takes. Seven interviews down and at least 14 more to go. Andy Brown can be reached at 837-4321 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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