VYPE: When did you take over as AD, and what was your professional background prior to this position?
Luke Yost: June 2025… Teacher, Coach, and Educator for 15 years. Head baseball coach the last 4 years at Jones High School.
VYPE: What is new in the athletic department, and are there any plans for future developments?
LY: Blanchard was given a generous donation of $7 Million Dollars to build a high school baseball field and softball field. The current fields are great fields but they are off campus. We want our athletic fields at the high school campus. The athletes have to drive across town to get to practice or a game. As an administrator, we worry about high school kids commuting across town. High school kids aren’t always the safest drivers. The safety of our students is our number one concern. The new fields that are being built are going to be turf fields. This creates an opportunity for our athletes to practice at a higher level. When other places get rained out, we will have the opportunity to practice. We are super excited about the transition into a new ball park! It’s long overdue. The ball fields we currently are playing on are super nice because of the hard work of our coaches. Coach Raney, Coach Shutrump, and Coach Stringer take extreme pride in keeping beautiful fields. We want to continue to maintain the fields when we move to turf. This allows our middle school programs to have their own fields and allows our community to host tournaments!
VYPE: Why is community support essential to an athletic department?
LY: Community support is essential to the success of a high school athletic department because it helps provide the resources, encouragement, and sense of pride that student-athletes need to thrive. When families, local businesses, and residents attend games, volunteer, or contribute funding, they help ensure teams have proper equipment, safe facilities, and opportunities to compete. Strong community involvement also builds school spirit and teaches athletes the value of teamwork, responsibility, and representing something bigger than themselves. By supporting the athletic department, the community invests in the growth, confidence, and well-being of its young people while strengthening the connection between the school and the community it serves.
VYPE: What should parents of incoming freshmen know as their student-athletes prepare to compete at the varsity level?
LY: Parents of incoming freshman athletes should understand that the transition to high school sports requires increased commitment, responsibility, and support. Student-athletes must learn to balance academics, practices, games, and personal time, so encouragement at home and strong communication with coaches and teachers are important. Parents should also be aware of eligibility requirements, physical health expectations, and team rules that help maintain a positive and safe athletic environment. Most importantly, supporting their child’s effort, growth, and character development. Rather than focusing only on performance, this helps build confidence and a healthy, rewarding high school athletic experience for their child.
VYPE: Which community partners and sponsors have supported your student-athletes this season?
LY: First National Bank, Edward Jones, Dent Tek, Allsups, Dominos Gas Station, Ten Arrows.
VYPE: Given the changing landscape of high school athletics, what is your perspective on the current state of prep sports in Oklahoma, and how can the experience be improved for students?
LY: I think the Governor needs to stay in his lane concerning high school athletics. The OSSAA isn’t perfect but they do what is best for student athletes. If we are opening an open transfer to any student across the country, high school sports will not be a positive experience in my opinion. The current format of one open transfer is a format that I like. This provides a fresh start to a student athlete who is in need of a change. I think there has to be rules in place or we will create super teams transferring to one school in order to win at all costs. We are losing the focus of student athletes. We need to focus on student’s graduating on time, not open transfers whenever people choose to move. If students are transferring numerous times throughout their high school career, the student athlete will not be on track for graduation. A place like Blanchard High School provides a great high school experience for our student athletes. I think if a student athlete got frustrated at some point during their high school career and transferred, they would have missed out on a great experience. We need to prepare our young people on how to keep a job and be a successful husband/wife. If we are allowing student athletes to transfer wherever they want, when they want, I don’t think we are setting them up for failure after high school sports.
VYPE: What is the biggest challenge you face as an athletic director in 2026?
LY: The hardest part of my job is not getting to see my own kids as much as I would like. I take my job very seriously and want to be at as many activities as possible. I want our student athletes and coaches to feel supported by their administration team. I also want our fans and student section to represent Blanchard in a positive light. In order for me to build those relationships with our community, I must be present. This is the hardest part about my job, and that’s missing my own kids’ activities. My wife takes my kiddos to practices, friends house, cooks dinner, homework, bath time, etc… Those are all things I enjoy getting to do as a dad on my off nights. I’m blessed to have a wife that supports my love for my job. Without her, none of this would be possible.
VYPE: How do you enjoy spending your free time away from school?
LY: I’m spending every moment of my free time with my family. My beautiful wife Kelci, my oldest son Ozzie is in first grade (7 Years Old), my beautiful daughter Lenni is in Pre-K (5 years old), and my youngest Griffey is two years old. We enjoy going to the farm to feed cows, going to the lake during the summers, playing some sort of board game or sport game, or just hanging together.
VYPE: What advice would you give to a first-time athletic director taking over a program?
LY: Steer the ship with small turns and adjustments. Blanchard has won 22 athletic State Championships. This is a very proud community when it comes to athletics. What they have done over the last 50 years has been very successful. I don’t want to come in on day 1 and start changing things. I want to be mindful of all the traditions this community has in place. I want to bring new ideas to make this place even better, but that comes with time. Small adjustments, not trying to reinvent the wheel.. Don’t be afraid to call and ask questions. There are athletic directors and people at the OSSAA that I constantly contact about questions that I have. I may not have all the answers, but I’m going to work my rear off to find those answers. Being comfortable and selfless enough to call and ask for help is a big piece of advice I would recommend. I’m surrounded by a great team of administrators. Superintendent Brady Barnes and HS Principal Karie Anderson are both hard working individuals that are athletic driven people. They want our school to have high academics, high character, and win championships along the way. Surrounded by great people, helps me be successful at the position.
VYPE: What is your message to the senior class of 2026, and what would you like returning students to know?
LY: **15 minutes early is on time. **”Golden Rule” Treat other People the Way you Want to be Treated! ** Be a servant leader. Lead your classmates with your actions. Attitude and Effort are two things you can always control. ** Be proud of where you are from. Blanchard is a great place to get your foundation! Don’t forget where you come from! “It’s a great day to be at LION”
