By Bob Hamar
bob.hamar@theindependent.com

They found their man just a few miles west of Grand Island down Highway 2.

Northwest activities director Rocky Almond announced Thursday that long-time Centura High School coach Ryan Rathke would be the Viking's new coach.

Almond said there were some outstanding candidates for the job. Rathke just seemed like the best.

"The No.1 thing was his passion for the game," Almond said. "No. 2 was his experience. I think he'll be a good fit for our program."

Rathke has been at Centura for 19 years. Before that, he coached at Fairmont for four seasons.

"I'm definitely very excited," Rathke said. "I think it's a privilege to be part of the excellence at Northwest High School. I'm anxious to start the preparation of getting the basketball team competing at a high level."

Rathke will be replacing Jeff Korus, who guided the Vikings to a 5-15 record in his lone season as head coach. Almond said Korus was given the opportunity to resign. He declined, so he was removed him from the position.

Rathke said this was the right job for him because it's an opportunity to go into a bigger arena of basketball.

Rathke has been an assistant football coach at Cairo and also head legion baseball coach for Dannebrog-Cairo-Boelus. But now, he'll be concentrating on basketball.

"I think the high standards at Northwest are attractive to me and being able to focus in on just basketball," Rathke said.

Former boys head coaches Dave Marron and Al Sheffield have both been with the Northwest program for years, as has assistant coach Chris Eberhardt.

"Northwest has had some outstanding teams and coaches through the years," Rathke said. "It's my goal to develop a very competitive basketball team that has great character each and every season at Northwest."

Eberhardt will be a part of Rathke's staff along with former Schuyler standout Turner Trofholz, who was a Division II All-American at South Dakota.

Almond said they were happy to get Trofholz and that Eberhardt has done a great job with the staff as well.

Almond said Trofholz, Eberhardt and Rathke were all finalists for the head coaching job.

"That is a fantastic coaching staff," Almond said. "They will add energy with wisdom and communication. That makes for a very successful combination from a coaching standpoint.

"They will do a great job motivating the kids. We're very excited and confident with who we will have leading the boys basketball program next year."

Rathke's teams at Centura have always been known for a disciplined style of play. Now he wants to bring that same style to Northwest.

"We want a team that plays very disciplined basketball and also plays the game with excellent basketball IQ," Rathke said. "Discipline and intelligent play will allow us to execute concepts on both ends of the floor."

Rathke had been out of town for family reasons this week. He wasn't able to talk to his Centura players until Thursday afternoon.

"I knew that would be hard," he said. "It was tough. I was happy to get it done. I've always had a close relationship with my players. That's part of who I am and that made it tough.

"I want the same thing at Northwest, too. I want to establish a great trust with the players. There is a lot to teach them other than basketball."

Rathke will also teach math at Northwest. He said there were a few different math openings, but he didn't know yet which one he would fill.

"I have a Masters degree in math so I can teach whatever," he said. "I love teaching, whether it's math in a class room or basketball. I just love to teach."