Kansas football coaching legend passes away

Roger Barta, who built a powerhouse in Kansas high school football, has passed away. Barta was 79 years old.

A member of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, Barta put together a 79-game win streak at Smith Center High School, which sits as the fifth-longest in high school football history.

During his tenure with the school, they went 323-68, capturing eight state championships in the process.

The 2008 season at Smith Center, which ended with a fifth consecutive state title, was the spotlight of a book by New York Times best-selling author Joe Drape. Titled Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen, the book highlighted the town of less than 2,000 people and the football team.

Barta, born in Kansas, attended Plainville High School and earned college degrees from Fort Hays State University and the University of Georgia. He holds Kansas state records for consecutive wins, consecutive playoff wins, most undefeated seasons and career winning percentage.

Smith Center went undefeated from 2004-08, as Barta retired in 2011.

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