Kevin Hedberg
After graduating from Topeka High in 1970, Kevin Hedberg attended the University of South Florida on a four-year, full ride tennis scholarship. He played varsity all four years, serving as team captain his final two years. Graduating from USF with a Bachelor of Science in United States History, Kevin returned to Topeka where he was the Head Tennis Professional at Topeka Country Club for three years. In 1977, he relocated to the Houston Racquet Club as Assistant Professional, then in 1978 managed an indoor club in Kansas City.
In 1979, Kevin moved back to Topeka to get teacher certification, completing his student teaching at Seaman High School. Seaman then hired him as a 90-Day substitute in an EMH classroom, and then as a Social Studies Teacher and tennis coach. He remained at Seaman for 11 happy years marrying his wife Sherri in 1985. During his time at Seaman, he was named High School Teacher of the Year two times.
In 1991, Kevin began teaching at Washburn Rural with classes in US History and Criminal Justice. He began coaching that fall as Bob Gladfelter's assistant, and took over as head tennis coach in the spring of 1992. Kevin stayed at Washburn Rural as a teacher and coach for 32 years. He served as Social Studies Department Head from 1995 until retirement in 2022 and was named AW Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2002.
Successes by his tennis teams earned him 22 Coach of the Year Awards. Washburn Rural tennis players earned 58 All-State designations during his tenure as Coach. Among the team accomplishments were a combined 47 City Championships, 42 League Championships, 41 Regional Championships, and five 6A State Championships. Kevin is one of a handful of 6A Boys' Coaches who have had championship teams in Boys' and Girls' Tennis, as well as individual champions in singles (Madeline Hill and Drew Hansen) and individual champions in doubles (Megan McBride-Jenni Van Vlack, Blake Asbury-Jared Keller, Trevor Hedberg-Sumeet Patel, and Ben and Zach Newell).
Kevin and Sherri have been married 39 years. Their shared daughter, Tracy, is in her fifteenth year teaching art in Seoul, South Korea. Their son, Dr. Trevor Hedberg, is an assistant professor in the Honors College at the University of Arizona. Both Tracy and Trevor are proud WRHS graduates. Kevin Hedberg was inducted into the Missouri Valley Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Kansas Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame in 2023.