Manhattan High baseball head coach Don Hess reached a milestone few achieve this past weekend, earning his 500th career win during the Indians’ trip to Garden City.

Now sitting at a record of 501-149 as a head coach, Hess’ mark reflects nearly four decades of consistency within the program.

Longtime Manhattan High athletics director Mike Marsh, along with Hess’ wife, Linnea, surprised the head coach with a plaque presentation before Wednesday’s home doubleheader.

“It definitely surprised me,” Hess said. “I wasn’t prepared for that, because honestly I didn’t know if I wanted anybody to know about it. It’s a personal goal, but there are so many other team goals and aspirations that will always come first.

“It can mean a lot of different things. It can mean you’ve done a good job, or it can mean you’ve had great players or great coaches, or a combination of any of those. So it’s humbling. It makes me feel extremely old, but at the same time, it’s a nice accomplishment for the program and all the former players and coaches that have been in the program. I hope they can enjoy that part of it also.”

Hess has been part of the Manhattan High program since 1989, when he began as the junior varsity head coach. He took over the varsity program in 1997 and, just one year later, led the Indians to a state championship.

That foundation, Hess said, was built long before he stepped into the role.

“I was lucky that Bill Green was the coach before me, and I was a young assistant who thought I knew everything I needed to know. There were times I was in a hurry to become a varsity coach.

“But once I became a varsity coach, I was able to sit back and think about all the great things he taught me, whether it was baseball-related or people-related. He taught me to just let the players play the game. They enjoy the game, and they will work hard for the game. He was a great people person.

“So when I talk about the transformation of the program, that was a while ago, so I really don’t know. But he instilled greatness in the program, and I was just fortunate enough to follow that.”

Along the way, Hess hasn’t done it alone.

Since 1998, assistant coach Lon Ostrom has been by his side, forming a partnership that has spanned more than two decades and hundreds of games.

“I can’t imagine doing this job without Coach O,” Hess said. “We’ve been together for about 30 years now, and I can’t imagine doing it with anybody else.

“What he has brought to this program, not only in terms of technique but also the ability to communicate with players, I don’t know how you can even measure that.

“To share this moment,” Hess paused. “I think we figured out we’ve been together for over 650 games.

“That’s a long time, and we still talk to each other,” Hess joked.

For Hess, the milestone is less about the number and more about the people who have been part of the program along the way between players, coaches and teams that have shaped its identity.

And while 500 wins marks a significant chapter, the focus remains on the present.

“Every team has its own personality,” Hess said. “This team has been a blast to be around, but I’ll say that every year. We take a lot of pride the journey — and this team is another step in that journey. Our aspirations are the same every year.

“This group likes to have fun. They like to play music, and they get along really well. So it’s been a great group.”