We are pleased to announce that Dr. Fred Bouchard will serve as the School’s Head Football Coach starting with the Fall 2020 season. “MICDS obviously has an incredible history and tradition,” says Bouchard, “and I am excited for the upcoming journey working with a driven group of student-athletes who are passionate about excellence in all areas of their lives.”
Bouchard brings 20 years of head high school coaching experience with a 201-48 record including five state championships, 19 straight years of playoff teams as a head coach and a history of building several teams into top-10 programs. He comes to MICDS from Decatur Public Schools in Decatur, Illinois, where he has been serving as Assistant Superintendent since 2018. Bouchard previously coached at Staley High School in Kansas City, where he started the football program in 2008 with no seniors in that inaugural year and led them to a state championship over Kirkwood in 2011. Prior to his tenure at Staley, Coach Bouchard led the football program at Harrisonville High School south of Kansas City for six years, during which he faced MICDS in the State Championship game three times. In 2004, legendary MICDS Coach Ron Holtman’s Rams rallied to force double-overtime, upending Bouchard’s Harrisonville team in an unbelievable State final. In 2005 and 2007, Harrisonville bested the Rams to claim two of the State titles that made up their three-peat from 2005-2007. “Having coached against MICDS three times in the State Championship game, I know first-hand the quality of the student-athletes I will now be fortunate to work with on a daily basis,” says Bouchard.
Bouchard was inducted into the Missouri Football Coaches Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, earned the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Simone Foundation, and was selected as one of two Legends of Coaching speakers at the first annual SC Iowa Football Clinic. He has spoken at football clinics throughout the country highlighted by speaking at the American Football Coaches Association National Convention in 2006. He has been selected as the Missouri Coach of the Year five different times by the Writers and Coaches Association.
Athletic Director Josh Smith says, “I have always respected how hard Coach Bouchard’s teams compete on the field. He possesses knowledge and passion for the game of football, and we are excited about him leading our program forward.” Head of School Jay Rainey adds, “Fred Bouchard is a builder. He instills a contagious love of the game in the students he coaches, and he inspires them to realize their highest potential on and off the field. We are thrilled to welcome so accomplished a leader as Fred to continue the robust legacy of football at MICDS.”