Oberle, Masters Finalists for Coach of the Year

The online publication Sports in Kansas has announced their finalists for Kansas High School Football Coach of the Year in all classifications and a couple of area coaches have made the list.

Doug Oberle, head coach of the Victoria Knights, is a finalist in 8-Man Division ll.  Oberle guided the Knights to a 10-2 record in 2021, a District 5 Championship as well as Regional and Sectional titles and an appearance in the 8-Man Division ll Semifinals for the second consecutive year.

Tyler Masters led Natoma to its first State Championship in Football this Fall as the Tigers rolled to an undefeated season with a record of 9-0 in the 6-Man Division and a victory over Cunningham in the Wild West Bowl October 30 in Dodge City.  Masters, who has been an assistant coach at his alma mater for the past four seasons, served as head coach for Natoma's Semifinal win over Ashland and the Championship clincher over Cunningham.

Two other coaches with area connections are also finalists.  Russell native Joel Applebee of Mill Valley, which won its third consecutive State Championship this past weekend and its fifth in the last seven years, is a finalist in Class 5A and Jordan Echer, who coached Russell High School in 2018 and guided Concordia to its first State Quarterfinal appearance in more than 20 years this Fall, is a finalist in Class 3A.

According to Sports in Kansas, winners are expected to be announced the weekend of December 4.