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.”

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