As the school year arrives, the Niobrara County School District will have new leaders in Superintendent George Mirich, NCHS Principal Phil Garhardt and LEMS Principal Lu Kasper. While Garhardt and Kasper are new this year, Mirich is in his second year in Lusk. Yet, when Activities Director Matt VandeBossche decided to resign last spring, it set off a chain of events NCHS has not seen in over a decade. Dick Price and Jerry Fullmer anchored the spot for the better part of 30 years before VB took over in 2006. After Matt left the head football spot in 2014, NCHS Alumni Ryan Nelson assumed the job and is entering his fourth season leading Tiger Football. He will have Chris Skeen (6th year) and Mark Kupke (1st year) assisting on the sidelines.

After longtime basketball coach Rich Murray retired following the 2016 season, Nelson again stepped up to the challenge. After two years Nelson will pass the title to Eddie Fullmer and assistant Andie Hubbard returns for her third season.

The ability to take on all three jobs is more than anyone should endure, and Nelson had a hard decision to make. Activities Director and just one head coaching position- or pass up the AD for both head spots? “This has been a goal of mine, it just came a bit sooner than I expected,” he said. “There’s just so much else going on during the winter season, I didn’t see a way to make it work with all three.” After much deliberation with his parents, friends and co-workers, football won out over basketball. “I still plan on helping, keeping the summer camps going-we need to do that,” he added.

One of his goals is to get more kids interested sooner and not be afraid of high school sports. “Both Phil and George have been AD’s before, so it’s been good to bounce ideas off of them,” said Nelson. “And in just a couple of interactions so far, it seems Lu is excited to get started also.” Nelson stressed the need to get more kids involved in all the activities NCHS has to offer. “My plan is to go over and talk to the entire eighth grade class and find their interests, and target all of them.”

Sandra Johnson (4th) and Kitson Boldon (7th) lead NCHS volleyball while Lindsey Allbright and Adele Cass handle the LMS girls. Cass will also return as LMS girls track and field coach.

Deb and Rich Murray have the golfers competing again and will lead the Lady Tiger hoops squad in a few months. Karla VandeBossche has a solid group of LMS girls basketballers, but no assistant yet.

Ron Nelson and Bobby Wiegel return as wrestling coaches for both NCHS and LMS squads. Wiegel and Hunter Kunerth will coach the LMS football team.

Johnson and Jim Lyons will again be leading the NCHS track and field teams next spring.

“There’s definitely a different energy from the administration so far,” said Nelson. “They all want to be here and get settled in.” A few openings still exist and transition is always rough but it appears several positions could be potential long term ones. “I waited as long as possible to hang the sign on my door, but Johnny did it today so I guess that makes it official now,” smiled Nelson as he headed to football practice.