Inductees

Looking back, anyone would have understandably guessed that he would climb the ladder like any young high school football coach, gain valuable experience and move on.

Yet Rick Byers found his calling. In 1987, about a year after walking across the college graduation stage, he came aboard the football coaching and teaching staff at St. Pius X High School in Kansas City – and camped out there for the next 33 years.

Well, “camped out” isn’t quite accurate. It was more like “built a winner,” and it’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Byers with the Class of 2022.

He coached football at St. Pius X from 1987 to 2019. After a stretch as an assistant, he was promoted head coach in 1995 and was 187-112 in 25 seasons.

Along the way, he led the Warriors to 16 state playoff berths. That included three state championships (1998, 2000, 2002), a state runner-up (1999), a state quarterfinal (2001) and a state semifinal (2006). Additionally, his teams won 10 district titles and a number of conference championships.

Including his time as a St. Pius X assistant, Byers was a part of 233 victories and 20 playoff teams.

Not that Byers takes much of the credit.

Instead, he says his story is all about others. Of the high school coach who inspired him. Of the college coach who took him under his wing. Of the St. Pius X coach who brought him on as defensive coordinator. Of the players who, in essence, ran through brick walls for the team. And of the St. Pius X principal who promoted him and backed him.

For some, a job as an assistant at a Class 2 private catholic school in a major metro might have been a stepping stone. For Byers, he made it his family, proud to wear the blue and gold of the Warriors.

Little did anyone know that coach Dan Griggs’ decision to bring Byers aboard in 1987 would lead to him becoming the longest-serving head coach in the program’s history, whose roots date to 1958.

Then again, maybe it was no surprise. Byers had the right seriousness for the job, as he arrived to his 1987 interview in a coat and tie before then-coach Dan Griggs flat told him he was way over-dressed.

“He hired me on the spot,” Byers said. “Over the years, I learned what to do and what not to do. He was a great teacher. He gave me the time to do what I wanted to do as long as I could tell him what I was doing. I learned everything.”

Football had been his passion.

The youngest of 13 siblings, Byers had grown up just outside of Paola, Kan., and then played football for – and wrestled for – Paola High School coach Dick Gilman.

“Everybody loved him. He was like a dad,” Byers said. “As I grew up, all the guys I admired wanted to be like he was as a coach. And he was at the top of my list. He always took care of me.”

After one season at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, Byers played the next three seasons at Pittsburg State, where longtime football coach Bill Samuels taught a coaching class and spent many days speaking with Byers about the game.

Then, after one season teaching at Fort Scott High School, Byers made the jump to St. Pius X.

Griggs had tried to recruit him to William Jewell during Byers’ Paola days. And, over the next eight seasons, Byers basically punched the time clock, rolled up his sleeves and learned. And when Griggs left, he applied for the job – and earned it.

“Dr. Ned Carlin (the St. Pius X principal), I know he took some grief,” Byers said. “I was from outside of the metro and was one of the few African-American head coaches in the area. But (the criticism) never fazed him.”

In essence, Byers enabled Pius to find its niche in the ultra-competitive Kansas City football scene, grooming players eager to over-achieve.

To him, that was the greatest reward, especially years later when they became successful in careers. Yes, he earned several Coach of the Year awards, including the 2001 Cecil Patterson and 1999 Kansas City Star and Kansas City Chiefs honors, plus the 1998 and 2000 Class 2 Coach of the Year.

Yet the players, to him, made the coach. So, too, did his wife, Kelly, and their son, Cole. Their support allowed him to make a positive impact.

“Those are the people I’m most proud of,” Byers said.