By SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Brent Schneider helped guide Sterling High School to the top of Class 1A last fall. Now the Black Bears’ head coach is getting a chance to coach some of the top senior football players in Kansas.
Schneider is serving as an assistant coach for the West Team in the 53rd annual Kansas Shrine Bowl, which will be played at 7 p.m. Saturday at Welch Stadium on the Emporia State University campus. It is the first time Schneider has coached in the Shrine Bowl.
“It’s been amazing, just trying to soak it all in,” Schneider said. “We have a great coaching staff that I’m just trying to learn as much as I can from.”
Schneider is coaching the West defensive line this week. He said the level of talent has stood out during practices.
“We have some really special athletes there,” Schneider said. “Just kind of being a sponge and interacting with them, just such high-level athletes, it’s really cool.”
The Shrine Bowl experience has also provided Schneider with a closer look at the meaning behind the game. The annual all-star game benefits Shriners Children’s.
“The Shriners and the ambassadors and the kids that have been coming in, and just the stories, it’s just amazing,” Schneider said. “The Shriners, their giving hearts, it’s just amazing to me.”
Schneider was selected to the West coaching staff after leading Sterling to a 13-0 season and the first state football championship in program history. The Black Bears defeated Rossville in November at Gowans Stadium in Hutchinson to win the Class 1A title.
Schneider was named Class 1A coach of the year by Sports in Kansas and the Kansas Football Coaches Association. He has spent seven seasons as Sterling’s head coach, compiling a 36-33 record at the school. His overall head coaching record is 51-57, including previous stops at Ellsworth and Chase.
The week has also brought Schneider back to Gowans Stadium, where Sterling finished its perfect season.
“It’s pretty cool, really,” Schneider said. “After that game, it was just a whirlwind. So just kind of being back and walking around, earlier today I was just kind of walking around over on the sideline where we were, and just kind of looking around and seeing it from a little bit of a more relaxed perspective.”
Schneider said the respect shown by players from larger classifications has also stood out.
“We’ve got so many great kids on our team,” Schneider said. “Definitely not downplaying where we play, because I think 1A football is great, but just the amount of respect that our kids have, just interacting with me, is very humbling. It’s just really cool.”
Schneider is part of a West staff that includes experienced Shrine Bowl coaches, including Junction City's Randall Zimmerman, who is coaching in the game for the ninth time, the most-ever by a coach. Schneider said he has tried to learn as much as possible from Zimmerman during the week.
“He’s amazing,” Schneider said. “I’m just trying to be a sponge. He’s got so much knowledge.”
Schneider said he has been impressed by Zimmerman’s organization and approach.
“There’s not wasted movement, wasted time,” Schneider said. “It’s very specific, and I just really like that. He’s got a great attitude, one of the best people I’ve met. Just how he cares for people and how he interacts with people, it’s amazing.”
Schneider is also getting to share the Shrine Bowl week with Sterling standout Zane Farney, who will play running back and slot receiver for the West Team. Farney helped lead Sterling to its undefeated state championship season and will play football collegiately at Dordt University.
Schneider said having Farney in camp has made the week even more meaningful.
“It’s a great experience,” Schneider said. “My family’s going to come up to practice tonight and be at the game, and I know my daughters are going to be wearing Zane’s number, and that’s awesome.”
Schneider said he has tried to let Farney have his own Shrine Bowl experience while still enjoying the chance to be part of it with him.
“I’m trying to let Zane kind of have his time and me have my time a little bit,” Schneider said. “It’s good that we’re on separate sides of the ball.”
Schneider said Farney’s leadership and personality have been easy to see throughout the week.
“Zane’s such a special kid on the field, but also off the field,” Schneider said. “I just love to see how he interacts with his teammates and his coaches. Zane’s got a great heart, and he’s a good leader, and it’s just so effortless how he interacts with people.”
Schneider said the relationship he has built with Farney and the rest of Sterling’s senior class is something he will always value.
“We have a great relationship, and I’ll cherish that for the rest of our lives,” Schneider said. “I’m super excited just to be part of that and just being able to share this moment with Zane. It’s just awesome.”
Schneider said the West players have come together quickly during the week, something that has been noticed by the coaching staff and Shrine Bowl organizers.
“There’s so much talent,” Schneider said. “And as much talent as there is, I’m very impressed with our kids, just the humility about them. We’ve heard from our camp manager from the Shriners about how our kids mesh so well, and it’s really true.”
For Schneider, Saturday’s game will be about more than the final score. He said he is looking forward to the entire experience in Emporia, including hearing more stories from those connected to the Shrine Bowl and Shriners Children’s.
“I love the football aspect, but football’s just a tool to get these kids to be young men in their future,” Schneider said. “Obviously the game, I’m super pumped about it, to see just two great teams go at it and just blessed to be part of it.”
Schneider said being selected to coach in the Shrine Bowl is an honor he shares with his family, assistant coaches, Sterling High School and the Sterling community.
“It is an amazing honor that I have been chosen as an assistant coach for the 2026 Kansas Shrine Bowl,” Schneider said. “Thank you to my assistant coaches, their families, SHS and the Sterling community. Most of all, thank you to my wife, Mariah. I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity to participate with these fantastic coaches and athletes.”
Saturday’s Kansas Shrine Bowl will be televised on Smoky Hills PBS, Cox YurView and 38 The Spot in Kansas City, with Mark Ewing and Stan Weber on the call.
The radio broadcast can be heard on Eagle Media stations 102.9 FM KHUT Country in Hutchinson; B104.3 FM KVGB “The Point” in Great Bend; 101.9 FM KKQY “The Bull” in Hays; 107.5 FM and 910 AM KINA in Salina; 107.9 FM and 1420 AM KJCK in Junction City; and 103.5 FM KQLA in Manhattan.
Gerard Wellbrock will handle play-by-play duties, with Sean Boston serving as analyst and Anthony Gorges as sideline reporter.