Three familiar members of the Crusader family will take on new coaching roles at Helias Catholic High School in the 2024-25 school year, as the baseball, boys soccer and boys tennis programs welcome new leadership.
BASEBALL
Kelly Fick will become Helias Catholic’s head baseball coach beginning with the 2025 season.
Coach Fick also will continue to serve as Helias Catholic’s head softball coach, a position he has held since 2017. A 2007 graduate of Helias Catholic High School, he was an All-State pitcher for the Crusaders and shares the school record for career saves. He went on to play baseball for the University of Missouri.
“Coach Fick brings both new energy and Crusader tradition to the Helias Catholic baseball program,” said Dwayne Clingman, assistant principal and director of activities/athletics. “His dedication to the Helias Catholic community and commitment to excellence show consistently in his coaching and daily interactions with students. We’re excited to see his vision for Crusader baseball develop over the coming years.”
Coach Fick will continue the culture of excellence maintained in the Crusader baseball program by Coach Chris Wyrick, who ended his 25-year baseball coaching career with the 2024 season.
“I appreciate the administration having the confidence in me to lead the Helias Catholic baseball program. I'm grateful for this opportunity and look forward to teaching and coaching our baseball student-athletes,” Coach Fick said. “The baseball program has a long-standing tradition of success both on and off the field. It's exciting to have the opportunity to lead the program into the future.”
Kelly and his wife, Sarah, reside in Jefferson City with two sons, Charlie and Ben.
SOCCER
Chuck Register will return to Helias Catholic to coach boys soccer for the 2024 season.
Coach Register previously coached boys and girls soccer at Helias Catholic for 14 seasons from 1999–2012. He has led a state championship team and 11 Final Four runs over his 920-game coaching career at Helias Catholic and Fr. Tolton Catholic high schools.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Coach Register home to Helias Catholic and confident our student-athletes will benefit greatly from his leadership and knowledge of the game,” Mr. Clingman said.
Helias Catholic will host a “Meet the Coach” event for boys soccer student-athletes and parents on Wednesday, May 29, at 6:00 p.m. at De La Salle Soccer Field in the Crusader Athletic Complex.
Jon DeSha, who has led both the boys and girls soccer teams since 2021, will continue as head coach for Helias Catholic’s girls soccer program.
TENNIS
Molly Maassen will become head coach for the Crusader boys tennis team beginning with the 2025 season.
Coach Maassen also will continue to serve as head coach for Helias Catholic’s girls tennis team, which she has led since 2021. She will take on leadership for the boys tennis program as Margaret Shimkus steps back from her coaching role.
“We’re grateful for Coach Maassen’s talent and commitment to Crusader athletics and excited to see her build on Coach Shimkus’ legacy and the solid program she has maintained,” Mr. Clingman said.
Coach Shimkus has led the Crusaders to five district titles culminating with a second-place state championship finish in her 11th season as boys tennis head coach, with an overall record of 124-46. She also served as head coach of the girls tennis team from 2013–2020, with four district titles and an overall record of 103-41 for that program. Prior to that she led the Helias Catholic track and field team as a head coach and assistant coach from 2011–2012.
“Thanks be to God for the Helias community allowing me to coach the athletes of Helias Catholic over the past 24 years! The journey has been one of true love,” Coach Shimkus said. “Shared friendships and faith are the best memories that I cherish from this journey. I could not have coached all these years without the support of this wonderful community or the love of my own family. I just feel the Lord calling me to spend more time with my own family.”
Helias Catholic students will continue to benefit from Coach Shimkus’ dedication and expertise as a member of the school’s practical arts faculty
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