Tim Waris founded the Bill Waris Bluejays in 2007 in memory of his father, Bill Waris, continuing a family legacy built around faith, mentorship, and basketball. Using the Bluejays as a way to give back to the community, Tim has dedicated himself to helping young athletes grow both on and off the court, just as his father once did.

Coach Waris brings extensive experience across multiple competitive levels. His coaching background includes five years as Freshman and C Team Head Coach at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School, along with two years at Notre Dame de Sion High School serving as Freshman Head Coach, JV Head Coach, and Varsity Assistant.

Throughout his career, Tim has been part of nine Parochial League City Championships as a coach and two championships as a player, reflecting his strong foundation in player development, leadership, and competitive success.

Tim Waris Jr. is a teacher, JV Head Coach, and Varsity Assistant Coach at St. Pius X High School. During his time playing at Our Lady of the Presentation, he was apart of two city championships, with his 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teams combined for an outstanding 34-2 record.
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While at Our Lady of the Presentation, he averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per game. He later became a four-year basketball player at Rockhurst High School, where he continued to develop the leadership, discipline, and competitive mindset that now define his coaching style.
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Tim was also a key member of the Bill Waris Blue Jays, one of the top-ranked youth basketball teams in the city. The team captured numerous tournament and league championships over the years, and all five starters went on to play varsity basketball. His experience as both a successful player and coach fuels his passion for helping young athletes grow both on and off the court.

Coach Jerry Bishop brings a lifetime of experience as both a player and mentor. His basketball journey began overseas in Augsburg, Germany, where he competed at the high school level and earned All-European honors. During those same years, he was selected to compete on the USA High School All-Star Team in Europe, representing American basketball against top international competition. Jerry played in the United States at Abilene Christian University, where he competed at the collegiate level and developed the leadership and basketball IQ that would later define his coaching style.
Following college, Jerry served in the United States Air Force, where he played for the United States Air Force Europe (USAFE) Basketball Team. The team won Gold against European competition, and Jerry was honored as one of the team captains.

Coach Bishop has dedicated himself to developing young athletes in the Kansas City area as a coach with the Blue Jays. Some of his most meaningful coaching successes have come within his own family. Jerry successfully coached three of his own children into collegiate athletics. All four of his children proudly wore the Bill Waris Blue Jays uniform, reflecting the family's deep connection to the program and the game of basketball.

As a member of the very first Bill Waris Bluejays team, John helped establish the standard for what the program would become — built on fundamentals, toughness, teamwork, and character. He played grade school basketball at Saint Thomas More School under the guidance of his grandfather, Bill Waris. John continued playing for his grandfather with the Blue Jays until Bill’s passing in 2007. After that, he remained in the program and continued his development under Tim Waris.

Today, John serves as a coach at Saint Michael the Archangel High school where he pours back into young athletes the same lessons he was taught. From grade school at Saint Thomas More, to the very first Blue Jays team, to now coaching the next generation, John Cuddy represents the continuation of a proud basketball legacy grounded in faith, family, and service.

Brian is a proud alumnus of St. Thomas More Catholic School and Rockhurst High School, Brian has been passionate about basketball his entire life. As a former Bill Waris Blue Jays player, the game helped shape his work ethic, leadership, and competitive drive. Brian is dedicated to being a positive influence as a coach, helping young athletes grow both on and off the court while building confidence, character, and a love for the game.

Nobody knows exactly where Billy Blue came from, but the story goes that he was fouled in the 90s and never got over it. Since then, he has followed the Bluejays everywhere.

His pregame meal is orange slices.
He once got called for traveling and replied, “I migrate.”
He calls every shot “practice” unless it goes in.
He once crossed up a defender so bad they transferred schools.

Rumor has it he once ran with Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny, but he refuses to confirm it.

Michael Waris is a proud product of the Bill Waris Bluejays, where he developed his leadership, toughness, and love for the game. Known as a clutch shooter and fierce competitor, Michael led with confidence and was often compared to his grandfather, Bill Waris. A major part of Michael’s young life, his "bumpa" was someone he deeply looked up to, eventually mirroring not only his competitive spirit but even his mannerisms and appearance. At Our Lady of the Presentation, Michael was part of two city championship teams. Beyond basketball, he played football, wrestled, and participated in debate at Rockhurst High School. Michael’s journey reflects the values of the Bluejays program: faith, family, teamwork, and perseverance.

Today, that legacy continues through his daughter, Georgia Rose, the next generation of the Bluejays tradition. Through Michael, the Bluejays family continues to grow.

William Waris was named after his grandfather and is the youngest of the Waris children to play for the Bill Waris Bluejays, continuing a strong family tradition in basketball. He played grade school basketball at Our Lady of the Presentation, where he was part of three city championship teams throughout his career. Beyond basketball, William was a four year varsity soccer letterman at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School, showing his versatility and commitment across multiple sports. Known for his work ethic and team first mindset, he became a respected athlete and role model among his peers.

Today, William has completed his master’s degree in Industrial Design at Kansas State University. His role within the Bluejays club now focuses on website development and graphic design, helping continue and grow the family legacy in a new way.