Tarrants to be honored Friday evening

by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News

Mike Tarrants, the popular Grain Valley High School offensive line coach, has learned from the best.

And he wanted to give each of them credit as he will receive the Dave Bassore Assistant Coach of the Year Award at Friday night's GKCFCAA M0-Kan All-Star Football game at Liberty High School. Game time is 7 p.m.

"Receiving this honor is very special," said Tarrants, who will be on the sidelines with Grain Valley's David Allie, who is the head coach of the Missouri team.

I've learned so much from all the coaches I've worked with, and I believe this award is a culmination of everything I have learned from each one of them."

At Fort Osage he worked alongside Jerry Boyce; Greg Reynolds was the head coach at Park Hill and Chuck Lliteras and Fred Bouchard were head coaches at Harrisonville.

He has been a member of Allie's staff the past 10 seasons.

Park Hill won a state championship in 2003 and Bouchard's Wildcats were state champions in 2006.

"I'm honored to have been on two teams that have won state championships, and like I said earlier, each one of those coaches is in the Hall of Fame."

While the Grain Valley offensive lines have never featured larger players, Tarrants said his kids put in the work to have enjoyed a decade of success.

"I think one of the best compliments I ever received came from Greg Reynolds, who said, "They aren't the most intimidating offensive line we'll see, but once they're on the field, they get the job done."

Wednesday evening at Raytown South, members of the all-star team arrived about an hour before their teammates so they could go through a special training session with Tarrant.

"That man can coach!" Blue Springs South center said. "I've just been working with Coach Tarrants this week and I've learned so much from him. He talks in a way we can all understand what he's talking about. We have added confidence because of Coach Tarrants."

Joining Allie and Tarrants are several members of the Eagles coaching staff, along with six seniors from the Grain Valley football team.

"This is a dream scenario," Tarrants said. "Most of our coaching staff is here, we have six of our kids in the game and everyone is as passionate about football and I am. When you work with this kind of talent and depth, you get excited. We can't wait for Friday night."

It's been a busy week for Grain Valley High School assistant football coach Mike Tarrants. After spending his mornings coach the Eagles offensive line, he heads to Raytown South High School to work with the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association's Missouri all-stars as they prepare for the GKCFCAA Mo-Kan All-Star Football Game at 7 p.m. Friday at Liberty High school. Tarrants will be presented the Dave Bassore Assistant Coach of the Year Award at the game. Photo courtesy Bill Althaus