Alexander takes Missouri coaching job

When Walt Alexander announced in early December that he was ending a successful 14-year run as Topeka High’s football coach, he made it clear that he wasn’t done coaching.

Alexander made that official Friday, confirming to The Topeka Capital-Journal that he has accepted a position as an assistant coach for the 2020-21 school year at William Chrisman High School, located in Independence, Mo.

Alexander will coach the offensive line for Matthew Perry’s Bears, joining a staff that also includes former Olathe North coach Gene Wier, as well as former North coach John McCall.

Wier, who is the Bears’ offensive coordinator, also had a stint on Kansas’ staff.

“I’m extremely excited to get to work with those guys,’’ Alexander said. ”When I was at Hill City as head coach, Matt Perry was at Stockton, so we’ve known each other and that was way back in ’94.

“With that many good people in that program, I thought it has to be a good place to be. Just coaching with those kind of coaches to me is exciting.’’

Alexander said he’s already getting prepared for his new position.

“I’ve done it for over 30 years and I’m still going to be learning,’’ he said. ”I’m learning right now from Gene, and he’s great.

“Those guys are good football coaches and that’s what excites me the most, to be able to be around guys who love it and have been around it for so long and they’re really good at it. At this stage in my career, it’s a perfect opportunity for me.’’

After taking over a Topeka High program that had suffered through 23 of 24 losing seasons and 11 straight when he arrived in 2006, Alexander built a consistent winner that posted eight straight winning seasons and 10 in his last 11 years with the Trojans.

The Trojans went 10-2 last fall and advanced to the Class 6A semifinals, capping a 27-6 three-year run that included six playoffs wins.

Alexander posted an 89-50 record at Topeka High, surpassing the combined victory totals of the seven Topeka High coaches who served before his arrival. His .640 winning percentage is tops at the school in the 60 years (1959-2019) that records are available.