New Palestine girls basketball coach Brian Kehrt is stepping down after four seasons with the Dragons.
Kehrt was named the 2017 Daily Reporter Coach of the Year and compiled a 54-37 record at the school after leading the boys’ program for 10 seasons. New Palestine was 17-7 this season and increased its win total in each of its four years with Kehrt.
“I have been blessed the past four years to be able to coach some incredible young ladies,” Kehrt said, according to NewPalestine Athletics.com. “As a coach, you hope you can teach basketball and provide life lessons and help make your athletes better people. The reality for me has been that our players have actually made me a better person, and for that, I am grateful.”
Kehrt and his wife, Jan, have three daughters. Natalie, a 2016 New Palestine graduate, plays basketball at DePauw University. Kehrt will continue to teach math at the school.
“When I started coaching at New Palestine, my daughters were little and would run around on the floor after games,” Kehrt said. “Basketball was a huge part of the Kehrt household, and I thank my wife Jan for allowing me to coach and for the sacrifices that were made because of my coaching.
“Traveling to Natalie’s games and getting to spend family time with our twins Lindsey and Lauren has become even tougher, but it is my number one priority.”
