By Jason Peake

jpeake@parsonssun.com

There’s no doubt that Joe Renfro has left a legacy at Labette Community College.

In his final two years at the helm, Renfro directed the Cardinals to back-to-back national wrestling titles.

But the longtime coach who once wore the Cardinal uniform himself is now done at LCC. Renfro will now resurrect NEO A&M’s program in Miami, Oklahoma.

“As of Saturday night, my goal now is to win a national title in 2014,” Renfro said. “That’s what I’m thinking about now, and that’s what I’ll be working on for the next 364 days.”

A Labette County High School graduate, Renfro admitted he enjoyed his time at LCC, which began back in 1995-97 as a wrestler. He was an assistant coach under Jody Thompson from 2000-02. He became the head coach in ‘03. He’s coached numerous all-americans, and national champions. He’s earned numerous coaching honors, as well. He led the school to three national titles. Basically, he’s done it all. And now, he’s moving on.

“No offense, but I’m not coaching at Labette to coach at Labette,” Renfro said. “I’m coaching to affect young men’s lives. And I’m still going to be doing that, just in a different town for another institution. But I wouldn’t have coached unless it was Labette to start with. When I think of my coaching career, I think about coaching and affecting young men’s lives, and I’ll continue to do that. I don’t really think of it as the end for me or the end for LCC. Labette will have another coach, and I wish them the best. I think I’m leaving it in a good position. This is my alma mater and I have been here a long time. But I’ll attack my new endeavors. So I have no fears for either program, especially for the one I’m going to. Because I know we’ll do the best we can every year. And if we don’t win a national title there, it won’t be for a lack of effort that’s for sure.”

Renfro pondered his situation a bit more and then summed up his thoughts well.

“For me to sit here and say it isn’t sad, I’d be a liar,” he said. “But we reached our goal and we closed this chapter.”

Read more: The Parsons Sun

And somewhere at Labette there is an administrator who thinks he did the right thing..... until next year.

Congrats to Joe. There is no doubt he is a top shelf coach.

What does the future look like for the Cardinal wrestling nation?

Have to hire a coach, I would think before that topic can be debated.

Congratulations to Coach Renfro. What a fantastic run at Labette. Best of luck to him at NEO. They got a top shelf coach to lead their program.
Stan Kmiec

Joe, you will be truly missed. You have built on the LCC tradition and done it with true class. You are the junk yard dog of wrestling coaches...meaner than hell but nobody better to have on your side when the going gets tough. Best of Luck to you and your family.

You would think they would try to announce a new coach here pretty quick so they don't get too far behind on the recruiting game.

After last night at the MoKan Dual with 28 perspective recruits in the building, and no head coach hired after knowing for 5 months that a replacement was needed, I as a alum am a little concerned about the future.

You're not the only Cardinal alum.

President Knox is not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Just for the record:

Joe Renfro took over at Labette 2003-04, this was his tenth year as head coach.
Dual record for Renfro coached teams 121-21-2
Three times National JUCO Champions 2005; 2012; 2013
Twice National JUCO Runners up 2007 and 2010
Twice National JUCO Third Place finishers 2006; 2008
Twice National JUCO Fifth Place finishers 2009; 2010

Twice NWCA National Dual Meet Champions

In 10 years as head coach, his Labette teams finished in the top five at Nationals nine times.

These past two years it has been an honor to work beside this man as his assistant. He has done great things for Labette and Kansas wrestling. Thanks to everyone that supported Coach Renfro and the Labette Cardinal program.

... where is the "like" button??