A second significant Coulee Region high school basketball coaching job was filled Tuesday when Holmen announced that Lionel Jones was leaving his job as women’s head coach at Viterbo University to lead the Vikings.
Jones, who coached the V-Hawks to a 76-100 record over seven years — Viterbo’s 15-14 record last season gave it its most wins since an 18-18 performance in 2004-2005 — was named Holmen’s new coach after he stepped down from his position with the V-Hawks on Monday.
The hiring of Jones follows the elevation of Shane Schmeling from assistant coach to head coach for the West Salem boys earlier this summer. Schmeling replaces Mark Wagner, who stepped down after leading the Panthers to three WIAA state tournaments.
The Panthers had a 103-15 record during Wagner’s four seasons and played in the Division 2 and 3 state tournaments.
Schmeling coached Onalaska’s girls to a 89-33 record and one Division 2 state tournament over five seasons that culminated in 2022. He then joined Wagner’s staff. Schmeling also coached Bangor’s girls to a Division 4 state championship in 1997.
Jones follows Nate Johnson at Holmen. Johnson coached the Vikings for seven seasons, and the team finished with a 70-88 overall record. But Holmen was 38-34 over the past three seasons and posted a 25-11 MVC record — placing second, tied for second and third — during that span.
Johnson was also an assistant coach for Duane Vike for 12 seasons before taking over the program.
Holmen also announced last week the hiring of Abi Schauske as the new coach for its girls swimming co-op with Onalaska and Aquinas. Schauske was previously an assistant coach with the team.
Logan will have a new volleyball coach this fall in Aaron Kupinski as it searches for new coaches in gymnastics and boys track and field after Erin Liljedahl and Joe Hackbarth, respectively, stepped down last week.
Liljedahl coached the Logan/Central co-op for two seasons, and Hackbarth won 12 MVC championships with a track program he started coaching in 2002.
If your school has made coaching changes this summer, email details to todd@couleesports.com.
