HELD HIRED AS NEXT LOPER FOOTBALL HEAD COACH:
Former Nebraska and North Alabama coach Ryan Held has been hired as head football coach at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Director of Athletics Marc Bauer announced today.
UNK will formally introduce Held as its 19th coach in team history at an 11 a.m. news conference Jan. 3 at UNK’s Health and Sports Center.
Held, 48, spent the past season as interim head coach and offensive coordinator at NCAA Division I University of North Alabama. Before that, he was an assistant/running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Nebraska (2018-21) and assistant/running backs coach at the University of Central Florida (2016-17). He was twice named one of the nation’s top 25 recruiters by Rivals.com while at Nebraska.
A coaching veteran with 13 years of head coaching experience, Held climbed the coaching ladder as a junior college, NCAA Division II and NAIA head coach before joining the Division I ranks. He had head coaching stints at junior colleges Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Highland Community College, Division II Southwestern Oklahoma State and Oklahoma Panhandle State, and NAIA Peru State College.
Athletic Director Marc Bauer chose Held following a nationwide search. He replaces Josh Lynn, who was UNK’s head coach the past six seasons.
HUSKER MEN DOWN QUEENS IN ‘BATTLE AT THE VAULT’:
Sam Griesel’s 16 points led five Huskers in double figures, as Nebraska closed out non-conference action with a 75-65 win over Queens in Campio’s Battle in the Vault Tuesday evening.
Griesel, who hit 6-of-9 shots and added three assists, keyed a balanced attack that saw the Huskers shoot 53 percent from the field, including 56 percent in the opening 20 minutes. Nebraska (7-6) never trailed in snapping a three-game losing streak.
The Huskers will be off for Christmas before returning to action on Dec. 29 when the Huskers resume Big Ten action against Iowa.
EARLY SIGNING PERIOD COMMENCES TODAY:
Today marks the opening of the early signing period for the 2023 college football recruiting cycle, and all eyes will be on the remaining prized recruits who have yet to announce their destinations.
The Nebraska Football team continues to impress on the social media recruiting trail, having bumped their recruiting class from the low 60s to a top 35 rating after the hire of Matt Rhule in late November.
Stay up to date with all signings and surprises at KGFW.com at the Huskers tab or at Huskermax.com.
NEBRASKA WOMEN CLASH WITH UNBEATEN JAYHAWKS AT PBA:
The Nebraska women’s basketball team returns to Pinnacle Bank Arena for the fourth game of its five-game home stand when the Huskers take on No. 20 Kansas.
Tip-off between Nebraska (9-3, 2-0 Big Ten) and the Jayhawks (10-0, 0-0 Big 12) is set for 6 p.m. (CT) in Lincoln. Pregame begins at 5:45 PM on KGFW with Matt Coatney and the Huskers Radio Network on the call.
Nebraska opened its five-game home stand with wins over Wisconsin (82-54, Dec. 7) and Samford (71-46, Dec. 10) before adding a 66-39 win over Wyoming on Sunday.
The Huskers are 6-0 at Pinnacle Bank Arena this season with all six victories by double digits. Nebraska has won 23 of its last 24 at PBA with 22 wins by double figures.
KU entered the week with a 10-0 record and a No. 20 AP ranking following an 81-62 victory over Tulsa on Friday night at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.
TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACH JOINS RHULE’S STAFF:
One of the top high school football coaches in the state of Texas is expected to join Matt Rhule’s coaching staff at Nebraska. Arlington (Texas) Martin head coach Bob Wager is in line to be the latest member of Rhule’s coaching staff.
It’s unknown what Wager’s position on staff will be, but he could easily move into one of NU’s three full-time staff openings.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Wager could coach tight ends, with offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield coaching NU’s quarterbacks.
It’s also a possibility that Wager could be in line for a high-profile off-the-field role on Rhule’s staff.
HUNTER THE PUNTER EARNS ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN FOR LOPERS:
Nebraska Kearney redshirt senior punter and co-captain Hunter Kraus has been named to the 2022 Academic All-American team as selected by the College Sports Communicators.
Kraus becomes just the eighth Loper to win this award and the first in six years. He earns second-team honors and is one of six MIAA players on the squad.
Student-athletes that have a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, been at their current school one full-year and play in half their teams events qualify for Academic All-District honors
On the field, Kraus earned third-team All-MIAA honors this fall after averaging 42.5 yards a boot. He had seven punts that traveled over 50 yards, had 37% of his attempts fair caught and 34% land inside the opponents 20-yard line. Kraus is slated to be a super senior in 2023.
LOPERS’ OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR LEAVES KEARNEY FOR ARMY FOOTBALL:
Army is switching to a co-offensive coordinator dynamic with a current member and newcomer to its coaching staff.
Tight ends coach Matt Drinkall will be Army’s co-offensive coordinator. Nebraska-Kearney offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Drew Thatcher will call the plays in his designed system.
Thatcher’s offense rushed for a Nebraska-Kearney record of 4,116 yards in his first season in 2019. Nebraska-Kearney averaged 450 rushing yards per game in 2021 under Thatcher. The Division II school scored 32.8 points per game this season.
Thatcher will also take over play-calling duties for the Black Knights after transforming the Lopers ground game into one of the best in the country, led by two-time Harlon Hill Finalist TJ Davis.
TUESDAY:
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Eastern Michigan 41-27 San Jose State
Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo 21-19 Liberty
WEDNESDAY:
New Orleans Bowl: South Alabama v. Western Kentucky – 9 PM
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
TUESDAY:
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Girls Basketball: @ Boone Central
- KCHS 47-39 Boone Central
- Boys Basketball: @ Boone Central
- Boone Central 50-30 KCHS
- Girls Basketball: @ Boone Central
WEDNESDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Women’s Basketball v. Kansas (5:45 PM – 9 PM)
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- N/a
SUNDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- N/a
