Warrior coach dies of apparent heart attack
Varsity Warrior coach Leon Harris collapsed late Monday afternoon at basketball practice and later died of an apparent heart attack. Harris, 50, Wichita, was in his first year of coaching at Peabody-Burns High School.
Delbert Mellott was at the high school watching practice from the sidelines. Mellott and Harris worked together for Kincaid Coach Company for eight years.
"He was having fun," said Mellott. "The junior varsity boys and (assistant coach) Roger O'Neal were at a JV tournament at Goessel and one member of the varsity squad was absent so Leon was filling in as the 10th man.
"He enjoyed the kids he coached and he was having some fun with them Monday night."
Mellott said Harris collapsed and fell to the floor. "I thought Leon was just joking around," he said.
Mellott and assistant coaches Brian Simmonds and Ed Rodrigues were in the gym when Harris collapsed.
Peabody Ambulance was called and Harris was transported to Newton Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Harris was hired by USD 398 to coach boys' basketball. He was not a classroom teacher.
Harris was a summer league basketball coach in the Wichita area. Several Peabody boys played on his summer league teams which led to his employment by the district.
Chuck Good, father of two of Harris' summer league players, praised his coaching ability. "He was good with the kids," said Good. "He would sort of chew on them from time to time if he thought they needed it, but I think they knew it was because he wanted them to do their best."
Good said the boys gathered at the home of one of the players Monday night to be together.
"They have a game tonight (Tuesday) at Canton-Galva," he said. "They were pretty shook up, but I guess they decided they want to go ahead and play."
The school district has implemented its emergency crisis plan and extra counselors are available to the students.
"USD 398 Peabody-Burns is saddened by the loss of our boys' high school basketball coach Leon Harris," said superintendent Tom Alstrom. "In the short time that he was with us he has had a definite impact, not only on our boys' basketball team, but on coaches and other students as well. Leon was an excellent coach and a fine person and he will be missed."
Harris is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter. Funeral services will be provided by Jackson Mortuary, but details were not known at press time. A more complete obituary will be published next week.
