Former Fort Hays State football coach Bob Cortese will be returning for Homecoming weekend (Oct. 7-8) in Hays as he will partake in the football reunion weekend and will sign his book "Stories Beyond the X's and O's" on Saturday at Forsyth Library.

The football reunion includes a social from 5 to 8 pm on Friday, October 7 at Thirsty's in Hays. On Saturday, October 8, the reunion continues with a tour of the Lewis Field facilities at 10 am. The Homecoming parade follows at 1 pm in which former players will be invited to ride on a trailer in the parade. Former players will be invited to tailgate in the late afternoon leading up to the annual Homecoming game against Pittsburg State, set to kickoff at 7 pm.

The book signing event for Coach Cortese will be on Saturday, October 8 from 11 am to 12 pm in Forsyth Library on the campus of Fort Hays State University. The book will be available for purchase at the event. The cost of the book is $14.95 plus tax. Cortese is looking forward to his return to Hays and the chance to see the campus and visit with coaches, former players and old friends.

"I have been fortunate to coach at the high school level, the arena sports level and at the University of Colorado, Mesa State College and Fort Hays State University," said Coach Cortese. "In my book Beyond the X's and O's I share some of my most memorable experiences from those years including stories about my coaches, my student athletes, and some of the bizarre things that happen in the life of intercollegiate athletics."

Cortese coached at FHSU for eight seasons, from 1990 through 1997. He compiled a record of 55-32-3, including four seasons with eight victories. He led Fort Hays state to its first NAIA playoff game in 1990 and NCAA Division II playoff games in 1993 and 1995. He owns the most wins of any football coach in Fort Hays State history.
 
Additional information about Coach Cortese and his book can be found on his website, www.coachcortese.com.