WESTON, Mo. — Tanner Lawson’s coaching days, for now, are over after a successful tenure as the baseball coach at West Platte.
Lawson turned in his resignation after six years with the school district. He has been named the new middle school/high school principal at DeKalb.
Lawson had a successful run as the baseball coach for the Bluejays.
In his six years at the helm, West Platte had winning seasons in four of them. The peak of his tenure was going to the state semifinals — falling to Valle Catholic — and finishing in a tie for third place after rain washed out the consolation game.
Lawson guided West Platte to the quarterfinals three times.
He also served as assistant football coach for West Platte.
“Right now, I feel a lot of emotions,” said Lawson, who taught American history and government at West Platte. “I am nervous about starting a new chapter in my career. I am anxious to meet the new staff members and find out how I can contribute to the DeKalb School District and community.”
Lawson is making the move after 17 years in education. The Winchester, Ill. native played baseball at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Ill., before moving into teaching and coaching.
He has coached football all 17 years in education and baseball for 12 years. Lawson was the football coach at Warrensburg-Latham High School in Illinois prior to coming to Weston. He also served as the head coach at Sherwood from 2008-2011.
He earned his master’s in administration more than a decade ago and the timing to step away from coaching was right for himself and his wife, Jennifer, who was the former girls basketball coach at West Platte. She recently stepped down this season as well.
CODY THORN/Citizen photo
West Platte baseball coach Tanner Lawson looks on during a district game last month in Weston. Lawson resigned as the Bluejays coach to become a principal at DeKalb.