After leading the girls’ varsity basketball team to a 19-8 record in a Class A/Metro schedule, and also to the Class B State semi-finals with no seniors, head coach Wade Coulter was announced as the Battle Sports Nebraska Coach of the Year for Class B, C and D girls basketball. The award recognizes the coach who showcased the best coaching skills throughout the season. Coulter’s team had wins against top teams from both Class A and Class B including Omaha Central, Waverly and Bennington. He will be recognised at the halftime of the Battle Sports boys’ all-star game today, March 22, at 7:45 p.m. at Bellevue East.

“We exceeded expectations this year,” Coulter said. “I mean, It’s a team award. It’s not really an individual award the way I look at it.”

Coulter was up against all of the Class B, C and D girls basketball coaches in Nebraska for this award. Class A and the boys’ coaches have a separate competition. This is the 23rd annual award. 

“Coach Coulter is a great coach who pushed us every day in practice,” junior Emily Woods said. “He also cares for us too.”

Alongside Coulter, winning across Class B, C, and D for girls’ basketball, the Crete boy’s coach, Tony Siske, won the boy’s award in that competition as well. For Class A boys basketball, the Omaha North coach, Thomas Liechti, won while the Millard West coach, Marc Kruger, won for the girls.

“The way I look at it, if it brings attention to our school and gives positive momentum for our program,” said Coulter. “I’m all for it.”