New man takes the helm for Washington

By Dion Clisso PrepsKC Managing Editor
Posted: April 23, 2012 - 12:46 PM



There will be a new head coach leading Washington this season but he won’t be new to the program.
Bryan Salsgiver takes over for Brandon Corbin who was not retained after last season. Salsgiver has been an assistant coach at places like Shawnee Mission South and for the last two years at Washington. Now he is getting the chance to lead a program for the first time and he is thrilled with the opportunity at Washington.
“I am extremely excited,” Salsgiver said. “I can’t tell you how it feels but my energy level and excitement is at an all-time high. I love football. I love teaching. I love everything about what I do. Most Americans wake up and punch a clock and come home and are miserable, but every day I wake up I am truly, truly excited to go to work not only as a teacher and a coach. Getting this opportunity is a dream come true.”
The Wildcats come off of a year with improvement that saw them go from zero wins in 2010 to two in 2011. Washington has struggled in the past few years but as recently as 2007 and 2008 the Wildcats were right around the .500 mark.
Salsgiver knows there is work to be done but feels there is the interest at Washington to be a good football school.
“We just had our first players meeting last Tuesday,” Salsgiver said. “The juices are flowing for sure because the end of the school year is coming and so is summertime. I just can’t put it into words how excited I am for Washington, myself and for the community.”
Washington has had big time athletes come through school in recent years. Darrell Stuckey played football for Kansas and is now in the NFL and Earl Watson has had an almost 10-year career in the NBA after playing at UCLA.
One of the challenges Salsgiver faces is getting that talent to the football program and building excitement for Friday nights at Washington.
“The talent is here there is no doubt about it,” Salsgiver said. “We have kids walking the hallways where the talent is there. There are family issues, there is society issues, there are community issues but I am excited about developing and continuing to develop relationships with kids and working with them to see their potential and live it.
“It’s going to take time. The wins and stuff are going to come but it’s a big process. I am excited about the opportunities but there is going to be challenges.”