Harry Kitchener and his wife Laureli enjoy life together with family after his retirement.
Harry Kitchener established himself as one of the most successful coaches in Kansas sports history during his remarkable 48-year tenure at Cloud County Community College.
The legendary track and field coach transformed the T-Birds program into a national powerhouse, winning two NJCAA national championships and developing over 50 national champions throughout his illustrious career.
Kitchener’s coaching excellence earned him numerous accolades, including induction into both the Cloud County Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006 and the NJCAA Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2017.
His teams dominated their conferences, securing twenty consecutive Prairie Junior College Conference championships and seventeen Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference West Division titles.
The pinnacle of his career came in 2019 when he led Cloud County to its first-ever NJCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship, earning him Region 6 Coach of the Year, Central Region Coach of the Year, and NJCAA Men’s Coach of the Year honors.
Born Harry Sargent Jr. in Compton, California, Kitchener overcame a challenging childhood spent in children’s homes before being adopted at age 12 by Orville and Marcena Kitchener.
He excelled academically and athletically at Longford Rural High School, graduating as class salutatorian in 1963.
After walking onto the Kansas State University track team and earning his degrees, Kitchener began his coaching journey at Wakefield High School before finding his true calling at Cloud County in 1977.
His impact extended beyond wins and losses, as numerous former student-athletes became successful coaches themselves.
Harry Kitchener’s Wife, Laureli, Built A Volleyball Dynasty In Kansas
Behind every great coach stands a remarkable partner, and Harry Kitchener found his match in Laureli Kitchener, a volleyball coaching legend who carved out her own extraordinary legacy in Kansas high school athletics.
While Harry dominated the track and field world, Laureli established herself as one of the most successful volleyball coaches in state history at Concordia High School.
Laureli’s coaching career spanned 24 remarkable years at Concordia High School, where she built a volleyball dynasty that few programs could match.
Her teams compiled an astounding record of 710 wins against just 86 losses, resulting in an incredible 89.5% winning percentage that speaks to her consistent excellence and ability to develop championship-caliber teams year after year.
This level of sustained success demonstrates not only her tactical brilliance but also her remarkable ability to motivate and develop young athletes.
The cornerstone of Laureli’s legacy lies in her team’s championship success.
She guided Concordia High School to an impressive 10 state volleyball titles while leading her teams to 17 state tournament appearances.
These championships represent the highest level of achievement in Kansas high school volleyball and showcase her ability to prepare teams for peak performance when it mattered most.
Laureli’s impact transcended state boundaries, earning her national recognition within the volleyball coaching community.
She achieved the distinction of being named a three-time National Finalist for High School Volleyball Coach of the Year, an honor that reflects her standing among the elite coaches in the country.
The Kitchener family’s athletic success extends beyond Harry and Laureli’s coaching achievements.
All four Kitchener children attended Cloud County, continuing the family’s connection to the institution that became central to their lives.
Kristie Hinson, Kerry Kitchener, Kelly Kitchener, and Gabe Hedstrom all followed in their parents’ footsteps by choosing Cloud County for their education.
The family’s athletic legacy continues through their eight grandchildren: Hailey, Chase, Emily, and Lindsey Hinson, along with Logan, Aaron, Jaxton, and Kolton Kitchener.
The partnership between Harry and Laureli Kitchener represents a unique convergence of coaching excellence in Kansas athletics.
While Harry transformed Cloud County’s track and field program into a national contender, Laureli simultaneously built Concordia High School into a volleyball powerhouse.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Besides coaching, he worked as the college’s Director of Student Activities and Student Senate sponsor for 23 years at Cloud County.
- Throughout his 58 years of coaching, Harry used the team slogans “Bigger is not always better!” and “Make every finish line count for something!”
- At Kansas State University, he walked onto the track and field team (rather than receiving a scholarship) and lettered in his senior year as both a pole vaulter and triple jumper.
