Tina Wendling

Heart of a Champion Tina Wendling

Heart of a Champion: The Life and Legacy of Coach Bill Freeman remembers a great coach and an even greater man. Filled with memories both humorous and poignant from family, former players, coaches, colleagues, and friends, Heart of a Champion chronicles the life and career of Kansas high school teacher and coaching legend, Bill Freeman, one of the winningest high school football coaches in Kansas history. A demanding, relentless, success-driven coach on the field, Bill was known and loved off the field for his big heart and genuine care and concern for his players and students. A true renaissance man, Bill not only coached football and track, he also farmed over three thousand acres, owned a bank, and served as mayor of Leroy, Kansas for twenty-one years. Lover of history and nature, Bill was a conservationist, historian, and environmentalist, but most importantly, he was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. Heart of a Champion also sheds light on Bill Freeman's battle with Alzheimer's and his daughter Jennifer's painful struggle as she watched her hero decline and eventually succumb to this deadly disease. In a world darkened by much division, we can all learn a little something from this Kansas high school football coach who saw the very best in everyone, believed that everyone should have a fair shot, and lived his life putting others before himself. Overflowing with loving tributes to Bill, Heart of a Champion proves that one man's legacy can live on long after his death and that one person truly can make a difference in the world.