By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
A year removed from leading the Thomas More Prep-Marian football team to its best season in more than a decade, head coach Jay Harris is stepping down.
The school announced Harris' resignation Tuesday.
In the four years that Harris led the Monarchs, they finished with a record of 22-16.
The Monarchs earned back-to-back winning seasons in the 2020 and 2021 seasons — the first back-to-back winning seasons since 1989 and 1990.
The eight wins in 2021 was the most wins in a single season since 2002. It also marked the first state quarterfinal appearance since the 2002 season.
Below is the press release from TMP-Marian.
[Hays, KS, Nov. 22, 2022] Jay Harris, the architect of TMP-Marian’s two most recent playoff football runs is stepping down after four seasons at the helm. With a combined record of 22-16, Harris led the Monarchs to the Regional championship in 2021.
“I have been privileged to work with great young men during my time at TMP-Marian. I am grateful for all of the hard work that they have put in during the off-season to become a better football team during the season. I look forward to seeing what they can accomplish in years to come,” said Harris.
Other highlights from Coach Harris’s tenure include having 26 All-League Honors earned by his players.
“Coach Harris always puts his players and students first,” said TMP-Marian principal Chad Meitner. “He taught the game of football incredibly well, but I can’t express my appreciation enough for his priority and focus on teaching his players to be good men, husbands, and fathers.”
The search for a new head football coach has begun and interested candidates can apply through tmp-m.org under the employment tab.
Located in Hays, Kan., Thomas More Prep-Marian is a Catholic school serving grades 7-12. Students come from Hays, the surrounding region, and from countries around the world. The school was founded by the Capuchin Franciscans as Hays Catholic College in 1908 and ultimately became Thomas More Prep-Marian in 1981. The school continues to serve young people in the traditions of spiritual growth, academic excellence, and leadership formation.