Lowry resigns as Louisburg girls basketball coach

By Andy Brown
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Updated: February 4, 2020

Andy Brown / Louisburg Sports Zone

Louisburg head girls basketball coach Shawn Lowry resigned Monday, effective immediately. Lowry was currently in his seventh season with the Lady Cats.

The Louisburg sidelines will look a little different for the rest of the Lady Cats’ basketball season.

In a move that caught some off-guard yesterday, Louisburg High School girls basketball coach Shawn Lowry turned in his resignation, effective immediately.

Lowry coached his final game last Saturday at the Top Gun Tournament in Wellsville and the Lady Cats were 6-6 through the first 12 games before he stepped down Monday.

“I want to thank the great people that worked with me as assistant coaches, the other LHS coaches during my tenure and all the basketball players that were part of the Lady Cats basketball program for their commitment, support and love,” Lowry said. “Most importantly, I want to thank my wife, Kristine, and my children, Kirstin, Garrett and Kody, for understanding my passion and for everything they sacrificed while I was giving of myself to other people’s daughters.”

Lowry was currently in his seventh season as the Louisburg girls head coach after taking over the program in 2013. He also spent a year as an assistant on the Lady Cat bench, along with a year as an assistant on the boys team.

According to LHS activities director Scott Hinkle, junior varsity coach Leanna Willer will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the season. Freshman coach Nick Chapman will continue to help with freshman and junior varsity, while Hinkle looks for a temporary hire to fill the vacant spot.

Players were told of Lowry’s resignation Monday afternoon before the team left for their game in Eudora.

The Lady Cats started the year with a 6-2 record and a spot in the state rankings, but problems arose to where Lowry felt he could no longer do the job to the best of his ability.

“During the last several weeks, my family and I have had to endure a great deal personally related to me coaching basketball,” Lowry said. “I believed that I could continue to do so because I put the players and their best interest above all else. However, I came to realize that no matter how hard I worked, how much I cared about these kids or what I did to make this the best possible experience for these young ladies, I was in a situation that would not only be detrimental to these efforts, but actually foster the opposite.

“I have always taken a great deal of pride in the way I represent myself, my family and those young people that I had the privilege to work with. From growing up in rural Kansas to running large companies, I learned early and have refused to compromise on those core values that are the fabric of who I am and that I have strived to teach.”

LHS administration could not comment on the coaching change, as it is a personnel matter. The Lady Cats are back in action tonight when they host Paola.