Dirk Wedd

Dirk Wedd graduated from Lawrence High School in 1970. While a Chesty Lion, he was a 3-year letter winner in football. His senior year he was named to the Topeka Capital Top 11 team. Dirk also lettered in basketball and was a member of the LHS Acapella Choir. He was also listed in the Who’s Who Among High School Students. 

After graduation from LHS, Dirk attended the University of Kansas where he lettered in baseball. He transferred to Emporia State University where he was a 2 time All Rocky Mountain 1st team center. Dirk graduated from ESU in 1975. Dirk began his distinguished high school high school coaching career after 10 seasons of college coaching at Pratt Community College (assistant football/head baseball), and football at Wichita State University. At WSU he served under the first African American Head Coach at a Division 1 level. (Coach Willie Jeffries) 

In 1990, Dirk returned to Lawrence High School and served as an assistant football coach from 1990-1998 before taking over as the Lions Head Coach in 1999. Dirk was the longest tenured head football coach while winning 106 games. He was the recipient of the Dave Bassone Man of the Year Award and the Simone Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019 Dirk entered the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association's Hall of Fame. His LHS teams were 2-time Sunflower League Champions, making the state postseason playoffs 14 times. The Chesty Lions recorded an undefeated regular season in 2015. 

Dirk was a multiple time coach for both the Kansas Shrine Bowl and Greater Kansas City Football Conference Assoc. During his 28 years at LHS he was Physical Education Department Chair, the Lions Head Baseball Coach from 1997-1999 placing 2nd in state in1997 as well as LHS Golf Coach from 2007-2018. 

After retiring from LHS, he was hired by the Kansas University Football program as Director of High School Relations and retired in 2020. 

Coach Wedd was known for many “Dirk-isms or phrases” during his years of coaching, but he is most noted for this quote; “There are over 1000 high school mascots that are Lions, but there is only one Chesty Lion”.