July 2019 Recipient

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and the “C” You in the Major Leagues Foundation (CYITML) have announced Olathe South High School volleyball coach Amy Razor as the July Blue Blue KC Coaches with Character honoree.

Completing her 12th season on the Olathe South sidelines in 2018-19—eight seasons as the junior varsity coach and four as the assistant varsity coach—Razor has earned a reputation as an encouraging, passionate and inspiring coach. She enjoys teaching them positive lessons on the court as well as off, working daily to let them know that they are valuable and loved.

And as much as Razor wants to encourage her athletes through love and affirmation, she also shows them the meaning of perseverance and dedication just by living her life and remaining committed to them despite her battle with multiple sclerosis (MS).

“A key piece of leadership is leading by example, and showing those around you how to deal with both triumphs and hardships,” said CYITML Founder/Executive Director and Royals VP/General Manager Dayton Moore. “Coach Razor, through the way she’s battling MS, is showing her athletes how to handle an incredibly difficult situation in life. We’re humbled to be able to select her this month.”

Selected from nominations submitted by fans, with one honoree announced each month throughout the 2019 MLB season, each Blue KC Coaches with Character honoree will throw out the first pitch at a Royals home game, watch pregame batting practice, receive four game tickets, enjoy dinner in the Royals Diamond Club and visit the Royals Radio Network to record an on-air interview. Razor’s experience at Kauffman was Friday, July 12 (photo above).

“Amy Razor has shown tremendous courage and dedication through continuing to coach despite the challenges of battling multiple sclerosis,” said Christina Lively, Department Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Blue KC. “It is evident that she loves her student-athletes and is willing to go to great lengths to encourage, teach and support them. It’s our honor to recognize her as a Blue KC Coach with Character.”

Diagnosed with MS in 2014, Razor’s physical condition regressed four years ago to the point at which she was forced to reduce the amount of stress in her life. Her choices were to either give up teaching or give up coaching. She chose to do neither.

“I love doing both, but they require a lot of time, responsibility and physical activity,” said Razor, who competed in volleyball and softball at MidAmerica Nazarene University. “And neither coaching nor teaching are things that I personally can just leave on the court or in the classroom. I take these kids’ stories and emotions home with me.”

With the support of former Olathe North principal Phil Clark, Razor began teaching part-time instead of full-time. When her health continued to decline, Head Volleyball Coach Ken Talcott brought Razor up to serve as his varsity assistant coach so that she wouldn’t have to run a team by herself as she had been doing at the JV level. Thus, she was able to continue doing both and making a difference in the lives of young students and athletes.

“These days teenagers are faced with many new challenges—especially because of the increase of technology, the Internet, and the use of social media—and they need positive relationships and influences,” said Razor. “More than anything, I want my athletes to know their worth and that they are loved. Because no matter what happens in life, on or off the court or field, if you can remember this and really believe it, you’re likely to survive just about anything.”

With her unwavering dedication to the student-athletes at Olathe South, Razor was nominated and selected as a Blue KC Coaches with Character honoree.

“Amy continued to coach because her love for her players was far stronger than the effects of her disease,” said Clint Razor, Amy’s husband. “The seasons have been a tremendous struggle for her as she battled symptoms like exhaustion, pain, dizziness and countless rounds of intravenous steroids, but she has served as an incredible inspiration and example of perseverance and strength to her players and the rest of the staff. She is a woman to emulate, and she has been a blessing to all who have come in contact with her.”

In addition to the game-day benefits, each Blue KC Coaches with Character honoree also will be interviewed on 610 Sports Radio, receive a VIP gift package from Blue KC and CYITML and will be invited to meet Dayton Moore at an event in September at Kauffman Stadium. Additionally, Blue KC will make a $2,000 donation to CYITML in honor of each honoree.

To nominate an amateur coach from the KC area for Blue KC Coaches with Character are encouraged to visit CYouInTheMajorLeagues.org/bluekc.