Shawnee's Supertrooper

Shawnee's AD, Jake McKinney, returned from Iraq on July 7. McKinney spent a year in the National Guard fighting in an active battle zone in Baghdad. This AD is no stranger to the duties of a high school sports director. He can't get his military mindset reset to AD time, but he's working hard to get forms and physicals dealt out to his players. "Shawnee has evened me out," McKinney said. McKinney also said that being back home, and at Shawnee, calms him down. McKinney shipped to Iraq in July of '07. He returned home after a year of duty as a commander of the Multi National Division of Baghdad's Special Programs unit. During his time in Baghdad, McKinney saw what a tough and trying situation it is in Iraq. McKinney felt removed and distant from his family and friends. He wanted to be with them when his second child, Derek McKinney, was born. On Nov. 13, Jake made it to the hospital just before his wife, Jennifer, delivered. Iraq put McKinney in many tough situations, like arriving in full body armor in 140 degree weather. But now that he's back at Shawnee, McKinney is experiencing the heat caused by his absence. While he was in iraq, Shawnee had two interim ADs and fired head football coach LaVell Boyd in favor of new guy Ravon Patterson. McKinney said Jefferson County Public Schools officials kept him informed of Shawnee happenings while he was on duty. McKinney is still adjusting to being back in the States. "It's in your mind-set. It's everything you do. You eat, sleep and breathe the military," said McKinney. He has to remember that Shawnee is sports and not active duty.