OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and the “C” You in
the Major Leagues (CYITML) Foundation have announced Piper High School cross country and
track coach, Cassie Dolinar, as the Blue KC Coaches with Character honoree for the month of
July.

“I knew from an early age that I wanted to coach,” said Dolinar. “I started right out of high
school. Over the years I’ve coached just about everything; softball, volleyball, basketball,
gymnastics, track, cross country, and more. The stars aligned at Piper High School and I had the
opportunity to teach and coach distance runners year-round through cross country and track.
That’s where I found what I think will be my final home.”

With more than 25 years of coaching experience, Dolinar has worked with hundreds of student-
athletes and helped them grow and thrive in all aspects of their lives. She was told at a young
age to listen closely to people, and that authenticity matters. Her student-athletes need her to
be the best version of herself each and every day. They need her to listen to them and ask
questions. She believes that when people feel heard, trust grows. Only then does the real
coaching begin.

“Set goals and go after them,” said Dolinar. “There will be bad days. There will be setbacks.
There will be times when you feel like you’re not making progress. That’s normal. Keep showing
up. Keep doing the work. Most success comes from ordinary people doing the right things
consistently over a long period of time.”

During her time at Piper High School, Dolinar has seen incredible support from families and the
local community. She says their awareness and interest in students and the high school teams
make herself, and all student-athletes, feel valued, loved, and appreciated.

“Over the years, I’m most proud of the culture of our team,” said Dolinar. “The athletes have
built something special. They take ownership of their training and their progress, and they
celebrate each other’s successes. Our athletes are the kind of people you want to spend time
with, and who make those around them better. My team is full of people you would want to be
friends with for life.”

Dolinar believes standards provide clarity. It isn’t just about performance, rather it’s about
becoming the person you want to be. She challenges her student-athletes to continually give it their all in every aspect of their lives. Her determination to teach young people to be the kind of person who finishes things, does quality work, honors commitments, and gives their best effort is on display each and every day.

“I would describe my coaching style as relational, equipping, and ownership-driven,” said
Dolinar. “I want athletes to understand why we’re doing what we’re doing when we’re doing it.
My goal isn’t just to coach them for four years – it’s to equip them to be active and run for a
lifetime. I want them to know how to train themselves, how to set goals, and how to adjust
when life gets hard.”

“Coach Dolinar is different,” said Dolinar’s nominator, Jamie Shaw. “She genuinely cares about
these kids as human beings first. The athlete part comes second. Her impact around here (Piper
High School) goes way beyond what you see on a stopwatch. It’s been amazing watching her
build this program into something special. She’s teaching them responsibility, discipline, and
the value of hard work; turning them into mentally tough, resilient young adults.”

“Cassie’s passion and dedication for coaching is worthy of our praise and admiration,” said
Jenny Housley, Blue KC President. “Her unwavering commitment to strengthening student-
athletes, both on and off the track, has been on display for more than two decades and we’re
honored to highlight her career accomplishments as an inspirating and uplifting coach.
Congratulations!”

Blue KC Coaches with Character recipients are honored monthly at Kauffman Stadium during
Kansas City Royals home games, and fans are encouraged to nominate high school coaches who
are making a positive impact on their schools and communities by using the form online at
Nominate Coaches With Character.