2025 Blue KC Coaches With Character Honoree Walt Cochran
Gardner Edgerton High School Cross Country Coach featured in the month of July
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and the “C” You in the Major Leagues (CYITML) Foundation have announced Gardner Edgerton High School Head Cross Country Coach Walt Cochran as the Blue KC Coaches with Character honoree for the month of July.
A well-rounded coach and educator, Cochran has been a staple in the Gardner Edgerton community, leading the school’s cross country team for the past 24 years. In addition to stints as a volleyball, basketball, soccer and track & field coach, Cochran has built a dynamic program that has allowed students to exceed any and all goals throughout their high school careers.
“Being able to teach and watch kids go on to achieve even the highest level of play are things we take pride in as a community,” said Cochran. “We also love to watch our athletes return to the area and give back to our community. Nothing beats coaching and teaching in a community that supports and loves the high school we’re at.”
You don’t have to look far to see measurable success under Cochran. A Kansas Class 6A cross country state championship ranks highly in his list of top career moments, but it’s the hard work, determination, patience and commitment that made that accolade even more enjoyable for him and his runners.
“As a coach, you know those kids so well,” said Cochran. “The fact that one of my state champion runners developed from a C-team runner to a state champion on the varsity level reminds me every day why every kid I coach deserves my best. I strive to help them develop into the best versions of themselves as runners, but more importantly as people.”
To be able to sustain such a phenomenal program, Cochran looks back on a message from his father years ago: “Work hard, love people and do it with integrity.” Cochran has implemented this advice at Gardner Edgerton and has made it his mission to ensure his cross-country runners understand what it takes to generate success at the highest level of competition.
“We coach so much more than just a sport,” said Cochran. “We teach and walk through life lessons, we handle adversity that comes with athletics and we balance life. I tell those in my program to ‘own your education,’ meaning they must own their training, the opportunities and and the decisions that will help define and shape their successes.”
Even as he approaches three decades of career coaching, Cochran is constantly learning and evolving his methods. He’s open to new ideas from his student-athletes and allows them the freedom, flexibility and platform to express themselves and offer suggestions that could benefit the team and the program as a whole.
“While I was personally running in high school and college, I learned how to handle adversity, put the team before myself and to work hard,” said Cochran. “I remind my runners that it’s a blessing to compete, and that every day we get to do something we love should be considered a blessing, even when you’re faced with adversity, injury or complications. Teaching them these life lessons is the best part of watching them respond, grow and mature.”
“Walt is a veteran teacher and coach who loves his school, program, community and most of all, his students and student-athletes,” said Cochran’s nominator, Jason Radel. “He is always finding ways to not only make them better athletes, but also better people. Whenever he can, he is helping find ways for his student-athletes to give back to the community. He has dedicated his life to education and coaching, while holding himself and his runners to a high standard of character.”
“The longevity of Coach Cochran’s career isn’t possible without his fantastic approach to bettering the lives of high school student-athletes,” said Jenny Housley, Blue KC Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer. “His determination and grit to adapt to the ever-changing environment and landscape of high school athletics emphasizes how uniquely gifted he is and how fortunate Gardner Edgerton is to have such an outstanding individual leading their cross-country program. Congratulations Coach Cochran!”
Blue KC Coaches with Character recipients are honored monthly at Kauffman Stadium during Kansas City Royals home games, and fans are encouraged to nominate high school coaches who are making a positive impact on their schools and communities by using the form online at https://www.BlueKC.com/NominateCoachesWithCharacter.
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