Kearney – The Kearney Public Schools (KPS) Athletics Department is excited to announce the hiring of Drew Danielson as the new Head Coach for the Bearcat Girls Basketball Program at Kearney High School, starting in the fall of 2024. Danielson, who brings a wealth of experience and a winning pedigree from his time as Assistant Athletic Director and Head Boys Basketball Coach for the Hastings Tigers, is set to lead the Blue & Gold into a new era.
“Coach Danielson is a great fit for the head girls basketball position,” exclaimed KPS Activities Director and KHS Assistant Principal Ryan Hogue. “His proven leadership skills, commitment to excellence, and ability to develop young athletes both on and off the court make him the right choice to lead the Bearcat girls Basketball program. This program is one that many around the state respect and know that it will be an uphill challenge every time they face the Bearcats. The resilience and competitiveness that this team showed this year is unprecedented in my opinion. The athletes and coaches should be proud because I know I am. Coach Danielson’s head coaching experience recognizes these small but big things in a team as he acknowledged this the very first time we met. He understands the type of athletes, team and community that he inherits with this position and move to Kearney. He was IN from the beginning.”
Hogue continued, “I have followed Coach Danielson pretty closely over the last 7-8 years from when he was coaching the Haymakers and competing against Broken Bow, my former school. When he left for Hastings, I thought to myself, that makes sense and was not surprised by the move up. Drew is a student of the game and fully understands the importance of youth development and cultivating a championship culture work ethic at a young age. He is also not afraid to run his program a little differently than others, implementing strategies that will give his teams the best chance for success night in and night out. I am very excited for the future of Bearcat basketball under the leadership of Coach Danielson.”
During his tenure with the Hastings Tigers, Danielson demonstrated the ability to build and sustain competitive teams competing against some of the best competition in the state. In just his 8th season of coaching, Danielson has amassed 91 wins as a head coach showing the ability to place competitive teams on the court year in and year out.
Prior to his 4-year tenure at Hastings, Danielson was the Head Boys Basketball coach at Cozad High School and was an Assistant Boys Basketball coach for Elkhorn High School. He also has been involved with the Nebraska Select Summer Development Basketball Program working with girls and boys from across the state on skills and fundamentals while also coaching competitive summer teams. Drew was a stand-out basketball player for York High School and was a two-year letter winner for the Hastings College Broncos. He spoke with KRVN’s Jayson Jorgensen about this move.
Danielson will teach physical education and weight training at Kearney High.
