Nevada High School hires new football coach

Nevada R-5 superintendent Dr. David Stephens, assistant superintendent Tyson Beshore and Nevada High School athletic director Kevin McKinley hosted a press conference Wednesday afternoon to announce the hiring of Wes Beachler as the Nevada Tigers head football coach, effective July 1.

Beachler is in his 19th year in education and is currently employed as the head football coach at Springfield Parkview High School. He will replace former head coach Jay Fleeman, who posted a 5-25 record in three seasons as the Tigers head coach.

Beachler was not present for Wednesday's press conference due to his desire to tell his Vikings players personally about his decision to come to Nevada before the hiring was made public.

Beachler has a bachelor's degree from Emporia State University and after completing his undergraduate education, went on to get a master's degree from Missouri State. Beachler was selected for the position as Tigers head coach from a pool of 36 applicants from all over the United States.

McKinley called Beachler the best coaching candidate he has ever seen in his 14 years as athletic director. When asked what made Beachler stand out above other applicants, McKinley said, "The fact that he has walked the path of building a program that has had some struggle. Honestly, we got the applicant that I thought was the best."

Beachler led the Vikings to a 5-6 season this past year that ended with a 42-13 loss to eventual state champion Lee's Summit West in the first round of the Class 5 state playoffs. That performance came just two years after the Vikings snapped a multi-year winless streak.

Coach Beachler was named the 2010 Ozark Conference Co-Coach of the Year and the 2010 Springfield QB Club Coach of the Year. He and his wife have four children.

More details about Beachler's career as a coach will appear in a future issue of the Daily Mail.