By Don Lowe
Lamar Tigers second-year football Head Coach Jared Beshore has already achieved quite a bit of success in the short time he’s been overseeing his high school alma mater’s pigskin program.
Most recently, Coach Beshore was bestowed a couple of distinguished accolades, while being named Big 8-West Conference Coach of the Year, along with Southwest Missouri Football Coaches Association (SWMFCA) Class 2 Coach of the Year.
While Coach Beshore is grateful, at the same time he fully recognizes it’s a culmination of his team’s on-field performances.
“I was very honored to be selected for these awards,” he said. “When you are a part of a successful program like ours has been in recent years, awards like these typically come with it. It’s also a great honor because of all the great coaches in our area.”
Lamar certainly did have yet another banner year, despite falling just short of a Class 2 State Championship with a 33-27 loss to Lutheran St. Charles in the title game.
Beshore’s Tigers still had plenty to be proud about, while finishing a sparkling 13-1 overall and going unbeaten in league play at 6-0 and ultimately managing a state tourney runner’s-up trophy.
Regardless of all the awards, numerous wins and championship hardware that might get stockpiled along the way, Coach Beshore said, “Awards like that are appreciated. But, they are not my goal or measure of success. We are in the business of developing young people, and that is how I measure success for our program.”
Coach Beshore prefers not to have the limelight on himself, and he said, “The players and my coaching staff deserve all the credit.
“The players are the ones winning us ball games, and my coaching staff makes me look a whole lot smarter than I am. I believe I have one of the best coaching staffs in the state at any level. Without the players or my coaches, these honors don’t happen.”
Although he’s not looking for personal glory, coming home to help his hometown team maintain such a high standard of gridiron greatness is a big deal, and Coach Beshore said, “It is very special.
“Lamar has given me everything I needed to be successful in the real world, and it means a lot to come back and continue the tradition that has been built here.”
At the end of the day, it’s all about the student-athletes. “I thoroughly enjoy helping shape kids’ lives that are in the same exact shoes I was not so long ago.
“They work hard, have an old-school mentality and are coachable. That is the reason the success continues for us here at Lamar.”
Indeed, the Tigers just keep on roaring loudly, and Coach Beshore deserves his share of credit for all that continues to be accomplished here.
Lamar Tigers Football Head Coach Jared Beshore Fast Facts
Age: 26
Spouse: Courtney Beshore
High School Alma Mater: Lamar High School, Class of 2015
College: Missouri State University (Springfield, Missouri), graduated Spring 2019
Degree: Bachelor’s in Physical Education
Favorite Football Movie: Friday Night Lights
Favorite Pro or College Football Head Coach: Nick Saban/Alabama Crimson Tide