Coach’s legacy commemorated with jersey retirement

By Shari Harris, Publisher

Licking High School principal Jarad RInne welcomed guests to Wulff Field at Deer Licking Park Tuesday where a ceremony was held to commemorate and celebrate the coaching career of Licking native and longtime Licking High School Baseball Coach Byron Hagler.

Byron Hagler coached for 15 years of his 28-year high school coaching career at Licking High School. His career continued after coaching high school baseball at Drury University where he was their pitching coach from 2007-2014. Throughout his career, he coached three high school draft picks and Drury’s first ever draft selection.

Hagler’s overall high school coaching record was 577-200, and at Licking it was 348-94. From 1980-1994, his Licking teams won 13 of 15 District titles and reached the Final Four seven times, winning two State Championships.

The ceremony Tuesday included the retirement of Coach Hagler’s #13 jersey and the hanging of a permanent banner recognizing him on the right center field fence. This is just one of the many honors that have been bestowed upon Coach Hagler over the years. He was inducted into the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 as an individual and in 2022 with the LHS Baseball Program.

Coach Hagler spoke to those assembled and encouraged and challenged the current players. He recognized his wife, Dana, for her unwavering support of him through the years.

An additional honor for Coach Hagler was being asked to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at Tuesday night’s game. Receiving the pitch was #13 on the Licking baseball team, Conway Adey, who will be the last player to wear that number.

Alumni who played under Coach Hagler’s leadership assembled for a photo at the conclusion of the ceremony, in front of the new banner in the outfield with the man who many still call “Coach.”

Photos by Shari Harris