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By JOE SMEKENS
Thirteen years ago, when Wayne Barker landed at Bluffton High School as an administrative assistant and head boys basketball coach, he thought it would be a brief stay in the Parlor City.
Barker saw the Bluffton opportunity as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
It didn’t take him very long, however, to realize that Bluffton and Wells County is as good as it gets.
“I had no plans to be here this long. I had big ideas for myself. I had always wanted to be a coach in the North Central Conference. I always thought that would be the pinnacle,” Barker told the News-Banner recently as he looked back on his dozen plus one years in Bluffton.
“Now I know, there are no better jobs than the one I have here in Bluffton. This is a great place to live, and to raise a family,” Barker said.
Being vice principal AND head boys basketball coach at a school the size of Bluffton has indeed turned out to be Barker’s “pinnacle” rather than being at a bigger school such as the Marions, the Andersons, the New Castles and the Muncie Centrals of the North Central Conference.
“I love both jobs I have here at Bluffton. They both require a lot of time, but they are where my passion is. It’s not a chore that I don’t want to be doing,” Barker said.
“Balancing out the jobs can be hard sometimes, but with a good coaching staff, it works out well. Basketball is where I try to make things ‘give’ when I have to because I have such good assistants,” Barker noted.
As for the administrative post, which centers largely on student affairs, as well as lots of paperwork, Barker notes “You can never really control the day,” noting that the unexpected usually never comes as expected.
“I prefer people over paper, so I do my work with people first and the paper work later,” Barker said.
And this strategy, more often than not lands him in the school building for three or four hours just about every Sunday to catch up on the paper work.
That’s OK with the popular 41-year-old administrator/coach, who with respected and equally well-liked BHS Principal Steve Baker gives the school a strong 1-2 punch at the top rung.
Amidst his busy schedule with the two big hats at BHS, Barker also has completed his EDS studies and has qualified for a superintendent’s license.
“I have that ticket punched if I ever want to use it,” Barker reflected, while at the same time indicating he is very content with his current positions.
“Excellence is expected here” and “more than winning” have been mantra’s for BHS students academically and athletically, and Barker feels the students are living up to those standards not only on the playing field and in the classroom, but also as people.
Handling disciplinary matters falls under Barker’s job description and he is quick to admit that BHS is not free of behavior problems with students.
But Barker is proud to announce that the school does not encounter some of the serious cases of disrespect and bullying as some other schools.
“We take a very strong stance on these issues at Bluffton High School,” Barker said.
“If you show disrespect for a teacher or another student, you are in trouble,” Barker said.”
“We haven’t had a fight between students all year, and we’re thankful for that,” Barker noted.
Barker cites the No. 1 problem among student behavior as being cell phone violations.
“Our rules say that if you bring a cell phone to school, it must be in a locker and turned off. Anything else is a violation of the rules,” Barker said.
Noting that virtually every student any more has their own cell phone, Barker said it’s difficult for teachers and administrators to stay on an even keel with the students in technology.
“I’ve always thought I was somewhat of a tekkie, but the kids are much better at it than we are. They can be sitting in a classroom texting messages with a phone in their pocket,” Barker mused.
“Technology has definitely altered education in many cases, and I think in most cases, it has been in a good way,” Barker said.
Bluffton High School is no different than any other school when it comes to the issue of drugs.
“We have some issues with drugs, just like any other school,” Barker conceded, although noting that he does not believe it is a serious problem. But he also indicated that even one issue is one too many in his eyes.
“We’re looking forward to the next school year when we will be doing random drug testing for students in grades 7-12. We’re excited about being able to do something proactive to help keep kids from doing drugs.”
Through his administrative position, Barker deals with many students who have social issues outside of school.
“We have many young people in our community who are hurting. Many kids have tough situations at home. We are doing our best to reach out to them,” Barker said.
“It’s rewarding for me to be able to work with these people. There’s nothing better than seeing kids advance themselves, and that’s happening here,” Barker said.
Barker doesn’t really see that much difference in students today compared to when he was a student or when he first came to Bluffton.
“The world changes, and society is different, but what kids need or want are not that much different. And one thing kids need and want is discipline,” Barker added.
While steering many BHS students in the right direction through his administrative position, Barker also has touched a multitude of people through his basketball job.
In the 13 years he has been the Tiger head coach, Bluffton’s basketball program has prospered to the point where it is regarded as one of the most solid programs in the state, not only for the success attained on the hardwood, but equally important for the number of outstanding individuals who have been involved in the ongoing tradition.
Barker has quietly registered his name in Bluffton’s legendary basketball record book as the winningest coach in the school’s long history.
Since assuming the job at a time when the program was not in real good shape, Barker’s teams have posted an overall won-loss record of 203 victories against 94 losses, including four sectional championships, and a trip to the state finals in 2002, as well as numerous conference accolades.
Just this past season, Barker’s senior-less squad ran the table on the regular season, posting a perfect 21-0 record before losing to the eventual state champion in the sectional finals.
“I have been blessed to have very many good players and good coaches to give me the longevity I have,” Barker said of his 13 years, a longer stint as Tiger head coach than any of those before him.
“There’s been lots of players and coaches who have been a part of what has happened here. I’m grateful on many levels. I wanted to build a program to be proud of, and I think we are doing that,” Barker added.
Barker pointed to how the kids have bought into the program over the years, and how special it is for former players to remain involved in the program.
“The most rewarding times are around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays when the former players are around and come to practice. They talk to the kids who are playing now. It’s very important to me to remain in contact with the former players. I am proud of who plays for Bluffton and who has played for me over the years,” Barker said.
“I would be remiss if not saying that God has really blessed me to be at Bluffton. I am very blessed to be a coach and assistant principal at this school,” Barker said.
joe@news-banner.com