Bob Warkentine has been the tennis coach at Kansas Wesleyan since the spring of 2012.
Warkentine is no stranger to Salina and tennis, having coached at Salina South, Salina Central and Sacred Heart before moving on to Solomon schools. Warkentine currently serves as assistant principal at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Kan., a position he has held since 2010. He previously served as principal of Solomon middle and high schools from 2005 to 2010 after a lengthy career in the Salina schools.
"I am glad to become a part of the Kansas Wesleyan family," Warkentine said. "This is a great opportunity to coach at the collegiate level after coaching boys' tennis in high school for 25 years. I have been a part of the Salina community since 1980, and have always liked Kansas Wesleyan, and to join the university at this time is perfect for me and my wife."
Warkentine likes what he sees happening at KWU and is ready to be part of the excitement on campus. "I like the direction the new president is moving the university in," he said. "And I want to be part of that experience and growth."
He got his start in coaching in 1977 as the head boys' tennis coach and assistant football and wrestling coach at Goddard High School. In 1980 he relocated to Salina where he served in similar positions at Central High, but was head wrestling coach for the Mustangs. In 1984, he became head football coach at Sacred Heart while continuing to coach boys' tennis at Central. Starting in 1987, he served as assistant football coach at Salina South while continuing to coach tennis at Central. In 1989, he added head wrestling coach to his duties and served in those capacities for 11 years.
After a couple years off, Warkentine served as head coach for boys' tennis at Salina South from 2002 until 2005 when he left Salina for Solomon.
A 1972 graduate of Wellington (Kan.) High School, Warkentine continued his academic career at Kansas State, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1977 and later earned his Master Degree in Administrative Leadership from Kansas State in 2001.
He says he intends to have the teams ready to compete at a high level and be one of the best in the conference and at the national level. "I want to have my teams in shape and ready to compete at a high level and that starts with the recruitment of solid players and citizens," he said. "It's one of my goals to make the program something to be proud of."
Warkentine continued on to say that outside of being outstanding tennis players he wants members of his team to continue to grow and develop into outstanding individuals in the community. "I want each player to graduate and to become a better person spiritually as well as a better player that appreciates and loves the game. I hope to create a team atmosphere and to be considered one of the best programs in the conference and be recognized on a national level."
Warkentine has earned several honors during his career. In 1998 he was selected as the Daughters of the American Revolution Kansas American History Teacher of the Year as was named as the Kansas Wrestling Coaches' Association Class 5A Coach of the Year. In 2003, he earned the Official of the Year honor from the KWCA. In 2005, he was selected as the USD 305 Renaissance Teacher of the Year. In 2009 he was inducted into both the Kansas Tennis Coaches' Association Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and in 2010 he was named as the National Federation of High Schools Kansas Wrestling Official of the Year.
