Iconic Smith Center Football Coach Roger Barta Dies at 79

Kansas pregame reported on Tuesday morning that former Smith Center High School Football coach Roger Barta who guided the Redmen to a historic winning steak and multiple state championships, passed away at the age of 79.

Barta led Smith Center for 35 seasons from 1978 to 2012 and along the way the Redmen captured eight state championships including five in a row between 2004 and 2008.  Smith Center went undefeated in each of those campaigns and amassed a state record 79 wins in a row, which is also the fifth longest winning streak in the nation's history among high school Football teams.

Barta, a native of Ellsworth, graduated from Plainville High School in 1963 and later from Fort Hays State University.  Before taking the head coaching job at Smith Center, Barta served as an assistant coach at Atwood, Tonganoxie and WaKeeney High Schools.

Barta's son Brooks who played for his father at Smith Center, went on to play for Bill Snyder at Kansas State before becoming head coach at Holton High School, where he's led the Wildcats to three state championships and a total of seven state title game appearances.  Brooks' son Mason also played for K-State.

Roger Barta retired in 2012 and was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.  The street leading to Smith Center's Football stadium is named "Roger Barta Way."  Smith Center's Football success also inspired a book titled "Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains" written by sportswriter Joe Drape of the New York Times as he followed the Redmen during their 2008 run to the title.