Kearney Catholic tabs co-head coaches for cross country team

KEARNEY, Neb. (KSNB) - Kearney Catholic High School has tabbed Jonathan Nikkila and Marcus Witter as Co-Head Coaches for the Stars’ cross country program this fall. They’ll be replacing Don Liess, the Stars Coach for the last 28 years. During coach Liess’ tenure, the Stars earned two state championships and four state runner-ups.

Nikkila is a former cross country runner at Kearney Catholic and Hillsdale College. He has been an assistant coach for the cross country and track programs at Kearney Catholic since 2009. He and his wife, Miriam, have four children.

Witter ran track and cross country at Kearney High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has previously helped coach at Kearney High and UNK, and for the past two years, he has helped with the Stars junior high track and cross-country teams. He and his wife Emily have five children.

“We are excited to have Jonathan and Marcus leading the cross-country program and believe they have the ability, creativity and resources to develop our runners and will continue the positive culture surrounding the KCHS cross country program,” said KCHS Athletic Director Rick Petri.

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