Inductees

In the early 1960s, Fred Flook was coaching at Liberty High School when the athletic director of nearby William Jewell College, Dr. Norris Patterson (MSHOF 2006), called in search of a coach who could double as a baseball and gymnastics coach.

A Liberty football coach, George Carter, had recommended Flook to Patterson, who wanted to enhance Jewell Athletics by himself stepping away from baseball duties and installing gymnastics into the department.

What a hire he became, as Flook had a great influence on campus over five decades. It’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted him with the Class of 2024.

Flook coached baseball at William Jewell from 1962-1970 and again from 1975-2001. In his 34 seasons in Liberty, his teams were 740-600-5, with the 1968 team winning the NAIA national championship – the first and only team in school history with a national crown. That team also won the Missouri Collegiate Athletic Union, NAIA District 16 and NAIA Area 3 titles and was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

Seven other teams reached the NAIA Tournament, including the 1976, 1977 and 1983 teams. The 1976 team set the school record in wins (42), but the 1977 team topped it with 43 victories. The 1983 team was 36-12 and won the conference for the 15^th time in 17 years.

Flook also guided the Cardinals to 23 conference titles.

And the secret to his success?

“The more patient I was, the better the players played,” Flook said.

In other words, Flook was one of several great hires by Patterson (MSHOF 2006) in his storied tenure, which included Darrel Gourley (MSHOF 2017) and Larry Holley (MSHOF 2009).

And, in essence, hard work was part of Flook’s DNA.

He grew up on a farm outside of Olathe, Kan., and later graduated from Stanley High School, where he had played football, basketball and baseball – with Flook earning All-State in baseball after his junior season.

He then was a shortstop and catcher at Emporia State University – and also was in gymnastics there – before playing two seasons for the Milwaukee Braves’ Class D club in Council Grove, Kan.

Flook certainly wasn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and climb the ladder the right way in coaching. He traveled to central and southwestern Kansas to begin his career, and then found his way to Liberty High School.

That allowed Flook the time to ready for the jump to William Jewell. He certainly knew baseball. But learning how to coach it was the key.

“Coach was not a yeller or screamer,” said former player Rich Stonum, a member of the 1968 team. “He had a quiet coaching style. He believed in having fun, but playing the game the right way. He put a team on the field that had talent and played well together.”

Flook preached fundamentals and was somewhat unorthodox in his in-game strategy in that he wanted everybody to bunt except when ordered not to.

He also took the team on an annual “barnstorming” tour of the South for early spring games away from cold-weather Kansas City. That included scheduling against federal inmates in Atlanta, Ga., with tours of the prison included so that players would understand the importance of staying on the right track.

Flook had the Cardinals competing well in the late 1960s. This was back when there was only NCAA Division I and NAIA, so any teams reaching the NAIA Tournament competed at a high level.

From 1967 to 1970, the Cardinals advanced to the national tournament three times.

The 1968 team took the experience of an early 1967 exit and ran the table in the national tournament, scoring three close wins to advance to the championship game. There, they beat Georgia Southern 4-3 in 13 innings on Larry Libeer’s home run, ending the longest game in NAIA championship game history. Notably, the Cardinals – from a school of roughly 1,000 – took out four state schools with enrollments in the tens of thousands.

Call it a remarkable Cinderella feat for Flook, who was only 33 and did not have any assistant coaches. Plus, the team had only one uniform.

That said, baseball wasn’t his only focus. He is dad to sons Edric, Tim and Chuck, and has been married to Leanne for 34 years.

What a great run it was in Liberty.

Fate brought Flook to William Jewell, and his patience, hard work, excellent recruiting and fierce competitive spirit provided thousands of players memories that are cherished still today.