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SMITH, DAVID B.S.
Head Coach, Track & Field and Cross Country
B.S., McPherson College
(620) 242-0587 smithd@mcpherson.edu
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Tim Wesselowski
Throws Coach
McPherson College ’62
A four-year letterman at McPherson College in track and football,
Wesselowski was the McPherson College record holder in the shot
during his time as a Bulldog athlete. After graduating with a BA
in secondary education, he taught and coached at Brewster, Chase,
and Kingman, Kan., before returning to McPherson in the fall of
1970 to begin a 29-year career teaching social science and coaching
track & field and football in the McPherson public schools.
After coaching track & field at the junior high level until
1985, Wesselowski moved across town to become the throwers coach
at McPherson High. In 1990, he was named head boys track & field
coach, a position he held until 1998. At the high school level,
both as head and assistant coach, he consistently developed league
and state meet medalists in addition to a number of school record
holders.
As a football coach, Wesselowski following a similar path, serving
as an assistant in the high school football program and then a tenure
as the head freshman coach at MJHS, before being promoted to the
head football position at McPherson High in 1984. Wesselowsi would
remain in that position for five seasons. In his final seasons as
the Bullpups head coach, he directed the MHS football program into
the KSHSAA state post-season playoffs, the last time in school history
until 2006.
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John Hudson
Jumps Coach
Fort Hays State University ’61
An All-American and school record holder in the high jump, Hudson graduated with a BS in education from Fort Hays State where he competed in track & field under the tutelage of the legendary and Hall of Fame coach, Alex Francis. In 1972, Hudson completed his MS in English at Kansas State University.
In the fall of 1970, Hudson made what was to be the final stop in a 30-year public education career when he began teaching writing and literature and coaching track & field and cross-country at McPherson High School. As the head coach at McPherson High, he continually produced state champions and medalists in all areas of the sport, but was particularly noted for his development of jumpers and hurdlers.
A member of the Fort Hays State University athletic hall of fame, Hudson retired from coaching track & field at the high school level in 1990, and then from cross country in 1994. After his retirement from coaching, Hudson taught composition, literature, and creative writing at Hutchinson Community College for several years beyond his public education career.
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Ryan Jilka
Sprints & Hurdles Coach
Emporia State University ’05
Jilka was named assistant coach for the Bulldogs’ track & field and cross country programs in August of 2006.
A graduate of Hillsboro (Kan.) High School, he lettered four years in track and three years in football and wrestling for the Trojans. His senior season, Jilka was state champion in both the 110 and 300-meter hurdles. He still holds the Hillsboro High school record in both the 110-meter hurdles at 14.40 and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles at 38.6 seconds.
At Emporia State University, Jilka ran track for four years under Coach Dave Harris, and was part of the Hornets’ 2005 MIAA outdoor runner-up squad. At ESU, he was MIAA conference runner-up in the 400m IH, listed eight times on the MIAA academic honor roll, and following his senior year, was named ESU’s “Student-Athlete of the Year”. Jilka still ranks fourth on the ESU all-time best list in the 60-meter indoor hurdles.
After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from ESU in 2005, Jilka joined Hospira Inc. of McPherson, where he works in product development as a chemist.
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