'Heart of Coach' award goes to Bison team leader

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Coaches Association annually recognizes individuals that support and promote the values of education-based athletics.

The NCA and Nebraska Fellowship of Christian Athletes partnered to create the “Doyle Denney Heart of a Coach Award” to honor an individual coach that has created a lasting legacy as a servant coach.

A sincere privilege to announce that the NCA Board of Directors and Fellowship of Christian Athletes selected McCook High tennis coach Matt Wiemers as the 2026 Doyle Denney Heart of a Coach recipient.

We will present the award at the Annual NCA Awards & Recognition Banquet on Sunday, July 19 at the Lincoln Station Great Hall located in the Historic Haymarket in Lincoln.

On behalf of the Nebraska Coaches Association and the Nebraska Fellowship of Christian Athletes, we are proud to announce this year’s award recipient to Matt.

We thank Coach Wiemers for his servant leadership and displaying the true qualities from the Heart of a Coach.

Wiemers provided this response:

“What a tremendous honor to be selected. Coach Denny was my high scool basketball coach and was a great role model.

With his leadership, we started the McCook Fellowship of Christian Athletes in my families home. So blessed to earn this great award.”