Hedrick excited about going home to Holden

By Dion Clisso PrepsKC Managing Editor
Posted: April 4, 2012 - 1:08 PM



Mike Hedrick wasn’t looking for a new job. He had been very happy at Lone Jack the last seven years but when the opportunity to move to his alma mater Holden came open he became interested.
The interest eventually turned into applying for the job and recently he was named the new coach for the Eagles. The move is a homecoming of sorts. Hedrick graduated from Holden and he will now be in charge of a football program he once played for.
Hedrick said he was very happy in his time at Lone Jack but this was an opportunity he just couldn’t pass up.
“That was a tough decision, Lone Jack was great to me and great to my family,” Hedrick said. “I have nothing but great things to say about them and have success when I’m gone and do great things. Obviously the fact of getting to go home is heavy in someone’s mind as you get older. It’s like wholly moly that would be great if I got that opportunity and I’m excited.”
Lone Jack had seen improvement last season going from 2-8 to 4-6 under Hedrick. The small Class 1 school made some gains but had a hard time cracking the top of the I-70 conference that featured powerhouses Wellington-Napoleon and Concordia.
Holden also plays in tough conference with 2010 Class 3 champions Richmond and 2011 Class 2 finalist Lafayette County but things are also looking up. The Eagles went 5-5 last season and this year drop from Class 3 to Class 2. Holden also returns a large group of starters led by all-state running back Max Mickey.
Even though the Eagles are returning a strong nucleus, Hedrick said that wasn’t the reason for taking the job.
“Being in a community that is a great supporter of football and sports and school is something I am looking forward to it,” Hedrick said. “When the situation arose I was unaware they had some great, great players and great coaches there already. Coach (Rich) Johnson did a great job of getting those kids ready. That’s what I told him. He had them going. As a coach walking into that it’s a great situation. I feel fortunate. Regardless of what was there I would have loved the opportunity to make it even that much better. I’m just really looking forward to it.”