Thomas Flax Takes Over as Concordia Junior-Senior High School Athletic Director
Concordia Junior-Senior High School enters the 2026-27 school year with a new athletic director, but the person taking over the role is certainly no stranger to athletics or the Concordia community.
Thomas Flax has been named the school's new athletic director after more than two decades working as a coach and educator. Flax, who was already at Concordia High School last school year, brings a lifetime of experience in athletics and coaching to the position.
For Flax, that passion for sports began at an early age growing up in Hays. The son of a high school football coach and the youngest of 10 kids, Flax grew up in a family where sports were a major part of everyday life. Flax joined KNCK Radio Sports Director Austin McNorton on the Coaches Corner to share about his family life.
Flax played football at Kansas Wesleyan University for five years before beginning his coaching career. He spent one year coaching college football before moving into high school and junior high coaching.
Over the past 20-plus years, Flax has coached a variety of sports and roles, including head high school football, assistant basketball, assistant track and field, and head track and field. He also spent six years in Minneapolis, where he served as head football coach and assistant track coach while teaching physical education and strength and conditioning.
His connection to the Concordia area goes back even further. Flax said his first teaching position was at Southern Cloud, giving him familiarity with the region. He also had previous connections to Concordia athletics through football camps and relationships with former Panther coaches.
After spending last year in Concordia, Flax said he has enjoyed getting to know the school's coaches and student-athletes from all of the different athletic programs.
As he begins his first year as athletic director, Flax said his primary goal isn't necessarily to make sweeping changes. Instead, he wants to establish a clear standard for what it means to be a Concordia student-athlete.
Concordia is hosting a football jamboree on Friday, August 28th, beginning at 6 pm, with Phillipsburg, Hutchinson Trinity and Republic County scheduled to participate. The event will give the Panthers an opportunity to get game action while also giving Flax an early chance to oversee a major athletic event. Food trucks are also expected at the jamboree, giving fans another reason to come out and support Concordia athletics. Flax shared his gratitude toward the staff that will help him in every aspect.
As the Panthers begin the 2026-27 school year, Flax will be tasked with helping guide Concordia's athletic programs while establishing the standard he believes can help student-athletes succeed both in competition and in life.
To hear the full interview, click below: