JACKSON NAMES KIEHNE NEW BASKETBALL COACH

JACKSON -- Mike Kiehne has come full circle.

Kiehne, who was an all-state basketball performer as an Indian, became Jackson's first basketball coach in 20 years not named Steve Burk when the school board voted in favor of the hiring committee's nomination Tuesday night.

Kiehne, an assistant under Burk for the last three years, is a 1990 Jackson graduate who was an NAIA All-American at Columbia College, where he remains the school's all-time leading scorer.

"We interviewed nine or 10 candidates," said Jackson athletic director Kevin Bohnert. "The committee was unanimous in its decision. We felt Mike was very committed to the program and that he was a good fit for the community. He knows the program and the kids."

Kiehne, who is a business teacher, couldn't have been more excited to become the head coach where he once dominated as a player.

"When I was in college and decided I wanted to teach and coach," Kiehne said, "this is the place I wanted to teach and coach. Coach Burk and the school and the community has done so much for me and I wanted to come back and return the favor a bit."

Bohnert said that the committee was not leaning one way or the other when the interviewing process started, but Kiehne ended up being the best candidate.

"We wanted to see what coaches were out there," said Bohnert. "In our interviewing process we took our time. We think he has a lot of potential.

"Most of our head coaches tend to stay with us so we took this seriously. We were looking for a commitment."

Bohnert said that Kiehne's three years as junior-varsity coach was a factor, but not the main one.

"He knows the kids and the players and he knows how things operate here. A very big thing for us, was that we've been fortunate that our programs work very well together. We're not competing for athletes or players. That was a main point that we expect to continue."

"I had three years to prove myself and let people see for themselves how I do things," Kiehne said. "I had some on-the-job training so to speak. I'm grateful to be able to finish up what I started with these sophomores and juniors and I've really enjoyed working with the kids here."