The coach at Kansas State University for 35 years, Ward Haylett highlighted his coaching career by serving as an assistant coach on the 1948 Olympic team. A graduate of Doane (Neb.) College, where we won 16 letters, Haylett coached five years at Clay Center (Neb.) High School and five more at Doane before becoming the Wildcats' first head coach in 1928. Until his retirement in 1963, Haylett's teams usually were in the Big Eight Conference's first division. One of his top athletes was sprinter Thane Baker, who captured three medals, including one gold, at the 1956 Olympics. Another top athlete was Elmer Hackney, who was the national collegiate shot put champion in 1938 and 1939. Haylett was head coach of the 1937 Pan-American team and a three-time member of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Coach