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Kohler named athletic director

Kohler named athletic director

NORFOLK, NE – Northeast Community College has named a new director of athletics. Kurt Kohler comes to Northeast from Fort Hays State University in Kansas, where he has served as head volleyball coach for the past nine seasons.

Kohler said he is “extremely honored” to have been selected for the position.

“I know there were many good candidates, and I thank the search committee for all their time and hard work throughout the process of hiring me for this position. Everyone I have met at Northeast has been very professional, friendly, and helpful; and once I toured the campus and the Norfolk community, and met with administrators and the coaching staff, I knew Northeast was the place I wanted to continue my professional career.”

Kohler has previous athletic administrative experience. Prior to Fort Hays State, he was at Barton Community College (KS) where he initially coached volleyball for one season in 2005 and was voted the Jayhawk West Division Coach of the Year that season. He served as Barton’s athletic director for approximately three-years.

Kohler said it will be difficult to leave Fort Hays State, but he is looking forward to returning to administration.

“I have had the privilege to coach an incredible group of young women (at Fort Hays State), and the coaching staff and administration have been a blessing to work with as well. However, I felt it was time to move back into administration, and I am excited to have the opportunity to do that at Northeast. I'm looking forward to moving to Norfolk and getting onto campus to begin working with the coaches, student-athletes, and faculty and staff of Northeast.”

In 2004, Kohler was at Missouri Western State University, where he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, and previously served as an assistant and head coach at Allen County Community College (ACCC) in Kansas. He served as the assistant athletic director at ACCC while coaching volleyball, eventually becoming the interim athletic director. He was voted Jayhawk East Division Coach of the Year in 2002 while at Allen.

Kohler was the athletic director and head volleyball coach at Weld Central High School in Keenesburg, CO, during the 2000-01 academic year. In his time at WCHS, he guided the volleyball program to one of its top finishes in school history and helped triple the size of the booster club. He planned and promoted fund-raising efforts that doubled the budget of the school.

Kohler also spent time as the supervisor of youth sports for the Fort Collins, CO, Parks and Recreation Department. While in Colorado, he was a volleyball coach at Morgan Community College in Limon, Karval High School in Karval, and Genoa-Hugo High School in Hugo. He earned league Coach of the Year honors twice while coaching in Colorado. He also served as president of the Colorado High School Volleyball Coaches Association in 2000 and 2001.

Kohler is a native of Colorado Springs, CO. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sport Science from Colorado State University. He also earned a Teaching Certificate for Physical Education and General Sciences. He obtained his Masters of Science degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from Emporia State University. 

“I am very excited for Kurt to get on board at Northeast,” said Amanda Nipp, vice president of student services. “I know without a doubt that he is the right person to lead athletics at Northeast Community College forward.”

Kohler, who succeeds Jacob Ripple, will begin his new duties on Monday, September 25.

 

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