High school football coach’s unexpected death rocks Ulysses community

Jason Kenny, Ulysses High School’s athletic director and 18-year football coach, died of unexpected but natural causes Tuesday morning. He was 47.

Jack Wolf, longtime Ulysses assistant football coach, told the Garden City Telegram there is no replacing a figure like Kenny.

“He’s gonna be missed and it’s gonna be a big job to take over on such short notice,” Wolf told the Telegram. “He was well-liked by everyone in the community.”

Kenny hailed from Sharon Springs and graduated from Kansas State. He is survived by his wife, Andrea, and three children.

The Kansas high school football season is set to start Aug. 31. Ulysses will open at Colby. USD 314 Superintendent Dave Younger told the Telegram the district is operating in a haze.

It will take time to fill either of Kenny’s positions, Younger told the Telegram.

“He has a great staff and we will get together at the appropriate time to make some plans, but right now our thoughts and prayers are with his family,” Younger told the Telegram.

Folks from across Southeast Kansas and beyond shared their thoughts on Kenny’s death.

Kenny started at Ulysses in 2000. Since then, he has taken the Tigers to the playoffs 15 times and reached one Class 4A state championship game. He had a career record of 135-60.

This story was originally published July 25, 2018 at 4:57 PM.