Jason Kern is new head boys’ basketball coach at Iowa City West

CEDAR RAPIDS - Jason Kern coached with Steve Bergman in late March at an Iowa Basketball Coaches Association all-star event.

Now he’s replacing him at Iowa City West.

Kern has been hired to lead the school’s boys’ basketball program, West Activities Director B.J. Mayer announced Monday, pending school-board approval.

Kern has been head coach at nearby West Branch, where he accumulated a record of 105-54 and won three River Valley Conference championships. Prior to West Branch, he was head coach and dean of students at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Natchitoches, La., where he went 56-32, including a state runner-up finish in 2018.

"We are excited to have Jason lead our program,“ Mayer said in a statement. ”He has 10 years of coaching experience and came highly recommended by those who have worked with him. He has a vision to continue the traditions at West while adding his own touch to elevate our men’s basketball program. We believe Jason is the right person to help grow our athletes both on and off the court."

Bergman announced in early April that he was stepping down at West last month after 35 years at the school, where he won six Class 4A state championships.

"I am truly humbled and excited for the opportunity to take over as the head coach at such a storied program like West High,“ Kern said in a statement. ”I want to congratulate Coach Bergman on a hall of fame career, and I hope to build on the strong foundation he has set to make this one of the top-tier programs in the state.

“It is important to me to uphold the history of this program, and for myself and my team to represent West High in a first-class manner. I’m looking forward to getting there to start building relationships with my players and staff."

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