After discussions with Sandburg and fellow assistant David Walker, Parker and school administrators named Sandburg as Jackson’s replacement. The move became official at this month’s school board meeting on July 14.

“Doug and David have both worked really hard in the golf program with coach Jackson,” Parker said. “They’ve been through it and have played a huge part of this successful run that’s happened. Doug taking over makes it a very nice transition.”

In his six years as an assistant, Sandburg has helped Tonganoxie reach unprecedented levels of success in the team ranks. The Chieftains earned three straight state bids as a team from 2010 to 2012, finishing in the top four each year. They came within one stroke of a state title in 2012, barely falling to tournament host Piper at Dub’s Dread Golf Course in Kansas City, Kan.

Additionally, Sandburg has worked with the top two individuals in program history. His son, 2014 grad Drew Sandburg, and 2012 grad Colby Yates are the team’s only four-time individual state qualifiers. Yates won a state championship as a senior, while Drew finished second this past spring. Yates is now at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Drew recently signed with Washburn University in Topeka.

Sandburg was an assistant for all but one year of Jackson’s seven-year tenure and said he doesn’t expect much to change from a philosophy standpoint on the course. Instead, the most significant change will be in how he approaches a mostly inexperienced team.

“The biggest thing will be developing relationships like Jackson did with all his players,” Sandburg said. “Sometimes, I can come off as the rough and gruff guy, so I’m going to have to be a little bit more of the nurturing, caring guy in developing those relationships. As assistant coaches, we can be a little more objective about things, so I think that’s going to be my biggest challenge.”

Also an assistant coach on the boys basketball team, Sandburg teaches social studies at the high school, which Parker said will likely make for an even easier transition into a head coaching position. Sandburg said he’ll work with the kids as long as KSHSAA rules allow him to this summer. He added that Walker will remain on staff as an assistant coach this coming season.