Central College Athletics - Women's basketball

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Veteran coach Nikkel is a proven winner

Women's basketball | April 30, 2008

Jerry Nikkel compiled a lofty 439-190 record in 29 years as a boys’ high school basketball coach, winning three state titles. He also was a girls’ high school softball coach for 19 seasons before spending the past 3 years as assistant women’s basketball coach at Central. Now as Nikkel takes over as head coach of the Dutch, he talks about why he’s confident that championship basketball will return to Central.  

 How do you feel your vast coaching experience will aid you?

 “My experience has always been with boys’ high school basketball but I feel there is a strong relationship between that game and the women’s college game. A lot of things can be taught the same way and you can run a lot of things both offensively and defensively that are similar to what you would do in a high school setting. I think having experience working with kids and how to understand them and have them understand me is important. It should help to have a working relationship that is going to benefit them as a student and an athlete.”

 How will being an assistant at Central since 2005 benefit you as you take over the reigns?

 “I think it has helped me in two ways. First, it has helped me to really understand the women’s game and how it differs from the high school game. You play 20-minute halves and in the Iowa Conference we do not take media timeouts and so I learned how to juggle personnel around to keep fresh people on the floor. Secondly, it gave me a lot better understanding of the Iowa Conference and the coaches in it. I have a better feeling for their tendencies and I think it will give us a little bit of insight to know how to prepare better for each team in the conference.”

 What challenges do you envision in seeking to regain the success of the past?

 “In 1993, Central won a national championship but the past years have been very trying, so there are things that need to be dealt with. I think our No. 1 goal is to become a competitive team in the Iowa Conference and qualify for the conference tournament by being one of the top six teams. We need to be more offensive-minded and score more points. We need to have people on the court who are going to score points for us and that is going to be our big push.”

 Why do you feel Central can become successful again?

 “The main reason is because of the young women in the program already. They are really quality athletes who want to play and win. Their attitudes are going to be really great to work with and that is a plus factor for them succeeding. We have some players who are coming in that should step in and help us. I really think with the recruits coming and the returnees we have a nucleus of good players with good attitudes who really want to turn it around.”

 How do you feel being a Central graduate helps you as a coach now?

 “I have always stayed in touch with the college and maintained a connection. It helps to tell recruits a little about the school, the academics, what it was like and how it has evolved over the years. I think it gives me a good understanding of Division III athletics and how it works with aspects like financial aid.”

You are transitioning from an assistant to a head coach, so what changes should the returning players expect from you?

 “I have told them my role is going to change. I used to kind of be their buddy by encouraging them and helping them prepare for games on an individual basis. Now, I am going to be demanding things from them and if they don’t meet those demands they will probably get a seat on the bench and watch everybody else play. The relationship role will hopefully remain a good one, but now, as the head coach, when I tell them things need to get done, it needs to happen.”

 Why do you feel top student-athletes should come to Central?

 “I think No. 1 you do it for academics. These are student-athletes who are first a student and secondly an athlete. To me, the reason you want to come here is for the relationships you will make for life. The women’s basketball program is one part of a college community on Central’s campus. As that one part, we become a family that is close to each other. We help each other out whether it is with preparation for tests or writing papers or whatever it might be. There is a lot of help you can draw on especially freshmen who can talk to upperclassmen who have gone through similar courses and experiences. We are a high-level academic institution that has the majors to get people to jobs and the support to get student-athletes graduated in 4 years.”

Specifically, what type of players do you want to be a part of the program?

 “I think No. 1 you need kids who fit in with people who already a part of the program. They need to fit in with the coaching staff and the players they will be playing with. I think attitudes and personalities are very important. We do not want to recruit people with attitudes that are difficult to work with. Secondly, we need kids who love to play the game and play it hard. Those who have a desire and a passion to play the game are the ones we want.”

 What are your short-term and long-term goals for the program?

 “The short-term goal is definitely to get ourselves to the conference tournament. We want to be in the top six in the conference. With the competition that is in the conference, it will be a big task. The more long-term goal is to qualify for the NCAA tournament. In order to do that we need good players and a lot of them because you have to overcome injuries and sicknesses so it takes a lot of talented people to make that happen.”

 What drew you to become a college head coach?

 “It was an opportunity to do something I love and I did not think I could turn it down. I wanted to become the head coach because of the young women in the program. I know they want to be successful and I know they can be.”