THOMAS KEARNEY

Merit Award
​Inducted in 2026

Thomas Kearney "TK" was honored with the Merit Award at the SHSAA Packer Sports Greats Athletic Hall of Fame in 2026.

TK’s decades-long coaching journey at South began with a simple desire to support his daughter and evolved into a foundational pillar of the school’s athletic programs. Across basketball, track, and football, TK has spent over thirty years shaping student-athletes through his passion, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to South.

TK’s connection to South began in the mid-1990s as a parent in the stands. His daughter, who graduated from South in 1998 and played basketball, was a freshman when TK noticed the team was struggling. Unwilling to just sit back and watch, TK struck up a friendship with varsity girls basketball coach Kirk McLaughlin and offered to lend a hand. Coach McLaughlin welcomed him aboard, jokingly noting he "needed all the help he could get." TK served as a dedicated volunteer coach for the 1995-96, 1996-97, and 1997-98 seasons.

Following his daughter's graduation in 1998, TK planned to step away from the program. However, school leadership knew his value; Jay Ball and Barb Rademacher advocated fiercely to administration to keep him around. As a result, TK was officially hired as a paid coach starting in the 1998-99 school year.

The 1998-99 season brought massive transitions. Under new head coach Ruffin, TK was retained as an assistant coach alongside Lori Negrete. When freshman coach Foster tragically passed away during the season, TK stepped directly into the void, taking over as the freshman girls head coach. Throughout his tenure with the girls basketball program, TK anchored the bench through multiple transitions, ultimately working under five different head coaches—including Coach Gunn—before his time with the girls program came to a close under Dennis Mitchell.
TK’s basketball story, however, was far from over. A close friend of boys basketball coach Bruce Chubick, TK joined the boys team to film games. He continued this role when Ben Gilliland succeeded Chubick. During a game under Gilliland's tenure, the head coach sent a staff member up to tell TK to stop filming and get down to the bench to help coach. TK did exactly that, stepped back into a coaching role, and hasn’t left the boys program since.

TK’s involvement with the track program began during his volunteer years through his close relationship with Jay Ball. In the 1997-98 school year, an athlete named Tom Dickey approached TK about throwing discus. As a lifelong fan of track and field, TK offered to help coach the event, and Jay Ball brought him onto the track staff for the 1998-99 season.

In an ironic twist of fate, Dickey ultimately decided not to go out for track that year, but TK remained on the staff regardless. He has been coaching track at South ever since, working under five different head coaches. From his very first day on the track, TK’s singular, driving goal has been to build a premier, competitive shot put and discus program at South.

TK’s entry into the football program is a testament to the persuasive power of Jay Ball. Around the 1997-98 school year, Ball casually informed TK that he would be helping coach football. Originally hailing from the South, TK told Ball that he wasn't a fan of the Midwest style of football and politely declined. Ball simply responded that TK had already been hired and walked away. Left without a chance to refuse, TK showed up to practice and went to work.

TK became a reliable asset on the gridiron, coaching under four different football head coaches before stepping away from the program just prior to Coach Fant's tenure.