KEARNEY – Steven Stutzman has been selected as the new Kearney High School Head Softball Coach for the Bearcats. The official start of practice for the 2023 NSAA softball season is August 14, 2023.
KHS Assistant Principal/KPS Activities Director, Ryan Hogue, stated that it was crucial in the head coaching search to find a candidate that wanted to stabilize the Bearcat softball program. The Bearcats will be going through their fourth coaching change in six years. “Our team needed someone to come in and say, I got this, and you don’t have to worry about this for a long time,” said Hogue. “Coach Stutzman demonstrated that kind of excitement and motivation the very first time I visited with him about the head coaching position. His credentials speak for themselves and I am confident he will work tirelessly to make the Bearcat softball program successful in a super competitive HAC conference and throughout the Class A ranks. Coach Stutzman has a history of getting the most out of his athletes and motivating his teams to compete at a high level. I am very excited for the future of Bearcat Softball under the leadership of Coach Steve Stutzman.”
Stutzman served as an interim Head Coach for UNK Lopers Softball, and an Assistant Softball Coach from 2017-2019. Stutzman served as an Assistant Baseball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at UNK from 2009-2014, also serving as the Director of Athletic Ticket Operations and, before that, Assistant Athletic Equipment Manager. Coach Stutzman also has experience coaching at the high school level with area teams Wood River, Shelton/Gibbon as well as Kearney 5 Points.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to once again be back in Coaching! Thank you to Ryan Hogue for giving me this second chance at doing what I love. When I think of Kearney High Athletics, I think of community, opportunity, and competitiveness. That is exactly what we have in the future of Bearcat Softball,” said Stutzman. “The community’s support of Kearney High Athletics has always been outstanding and I am beyond excited to experience this first hand. We have the opportunity to be great by taking care of the little things and paying attention to detail. If we can be great at enough of the small things, then the big things will happen. I can’t wait to start working with the student-athletes and get ready for the season. GO BEARCATS!”
In addition to his experience at UNK, Stutzman was the Head Baseball Coach for the Casper Cutthroats (2012-2014) and Wichita Wheat Kings (2011-2012), compiling a combined record of 95-38. While with the Cutthroats, Stutzman won the Mountain Collegiate Baseball Championship in 2014 and set a record for wins in a season in back-to-back years
Stutzman has a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Health from UNK. He also has an Associate of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Hesston College.
He is a member of the National Fastpitch Coach Association, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, and the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Stutzman has been a pharmaceutical sales representative for 3 years. He and his wife Taylor, who is a former UNK Softball Player and Assistant Coach, have 2 children, Leo and Mae.
Stutzman is replacing Chelsey Jacobitz, who resigned this year.