BonnerSprings.com

Bonner Springs High School's new Activities Director John Hilton is already hard at work.

Before sitting down to answer questions about his new position in his temporary office nestled behind the teacher's lounge, he is handed a schedule for all next year's wrestling meets by outgoing A.D. Garold Baker.

The two talk as if the first meet is tomorrow, when in fact the wrestling season does not begin until November. Talk about being thrown into the fire. Hilton would not want it any other way.

"My old defensive coordinator says I'm pretty anal when it comes to organization," said Hilton, a former football coach. "I call it structured : he calls it anal."

Hilton graduated from De Soto High School in 1990 and earned his college degree at Mid-America Nazarene University. His love of football propelled him into his first coaching position at Baker University, but coaching was not enough.

He attained his teaching certificate and became a teacher and coach at Grandview (Mo.) High School where he coached alongside BSHS Assistant Principal Joe Hornback.

Hilton then pursued a career in financial services and left the education field for two years, a move that landed him in Colorado. Soon he regained the urge to coach and teach.

"I missed it like crazy," he said.

In 2003 he was hired on as the head coach of the Arvada High School football team in Arvada, Colo., a town Northwest of downtown Denver. The school had about twice the number of students as Bonner Springs.

This will be his first A.D. job and he says he is ready for the challenge.

"I am really excited about this new opportunity," he said. "I am originally from the area : everybody has been fantastic and helpful. Kind of what you expect from a good community."

He is looking forward to working with the individual coaches and helping them improve their programs. In his first year he hopes to stay back and evaluate the athletic department by asking as many questions as possible. No sweeping changes are in order.

"I know there has been a long line of good athletic directors here at Bonner Springs High School," Hilton said. "Hopefully, I can continue that tradition."

Baker has been helping Hilton get up to speed during the past week and has offered to assist him in the future if he asks. Baker will remain in the area when he takes over as A.D. at Turner High School in August.

Hilton said that he will struggle at first with not being at the head of the class or on the sideline, where he believes individual relationships can manifest and grow. However, his planned approach will allow him to be visible to students and parents, which he said would make those types of relationships possible.

He recently purchased a home within 10 minutes of the school and he plans to be a regular around town.

"I am looking forward to meeting the parents in the community and being a face of Bonner Springs High School and our athletic department," Hilton said.

He is impressed with the great facilities at BSHS, noting, "They are absolutely tremendous. Phenomenal."

He will not be able to get comfortable quite yet. His first two priorities will be to name a new baseball coach to replace longtime coach Rick Moulin, and to get the volleyball coach approved through the school board. The period from June 14 to Aug. 1 is usually a break from school for administrators but it won't be for Hilton. He plans on working through the summer to get organized, or as he would say, "structured."

"This is gearing up to be an exciting time in Bonner Springs," Hilton said. "I am happy that I will be a part of it."

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