With the start of practice on the Kansas side just a week away one school had a coaching change occur right before the season began.
Fred Bouchard resigned at Shawnee Mission East Monday after taking the job in January. Bouchard replaced Dustin Delaney who stepped down in November.
Bouchard came to east after retiring at Staley. He retired from coaching after the 2015 season and served in the North Kansas City Central office until this spring. Bouchard is one of the most successful coaches in the Metro winning three state championships at Harrisonville before starting the program at Staley. He led the Falcons to their first state title in 2011 in just their fourth year of existence.
Delaney left after leading the Lancers to two state title games and winning East’s first-ever football state championship citing issues with the administration.
“I would say there were some things that I didn’t necessarily agree with and I’ll kind of leave it at that,” Delaney said in November. “I really enjoyed our time at Shawnee Mission East. We live right by the school. My daughters go to elementary schools that feed here and my wife teaches here. The Shawnee Mission East community is awesome. Our parents are awesome. Our building administrator Dr. (John) McKinney is a great guy and I love the kids in the community but there were just some things I couldn’t agree with and couldn’t be a part of. I tried to affect change and couldn’t do so it’s probably in the best interest that I move on.”
Bouchard is leaving to take a position in the central office of a school district in Illinois. He said he was excited about the new opportunity. Bouchard said he couldn’t pass it up and there were some challenges he faced at East.
“I think there is a great opportunity in front of me,” Bouchard said. “I’ve turned down other opportunities in the spring.
“I tried here but there was probably a philosophical delta that we were unable to close.”
Even though he had a short tenure, Bouchard had high praise for East Activities Director Debbie Katzfey.
“Debbie Katzfey is a tremendous athletic director,” Bouchard said. “It’s no secret why Lee’s Summit West won at everything while she was there.”
PrepsKC reached out to Katzfey but we were unable to reach her at this time.
