Matt Hoeppner’s mission: Revive the Cedar Rapids Jefferson girls’ basketball program

CEDAR RAPIDS — As far as selecting a turn-the-program-around guy, Jefferson High School couldn’t have done much better.

Athletics Director Chris Deam announced the hiring of Matt Hoeppner as its next girls’ basketball coach, pending board approval.

“We are excited for the enthusiasm that Coach Hoeppner will bring to our program,” Deam said in a release Monday. “He has had experience and success in helping girls become successful.”

Hoeppner, 39, coached the last three years at West Liberty, which had not enjoyed a winning season since 1991. The Hoeppner era featured a record of 53-16.

Last season, despite starting the season with six players (and finishing with eight), the Comets were 18-5.

“When I got this offer, I had to make a tough decision,” Hoeppner said. “No doubt about it, there were some tough conversations.”

Hoeppner’s travel actually will be lessened by the new job; he and his family live in Cedar Rapids, near Kirkwood Community College.

He works in human resources, from home.

At Jefferson, Hoeppner inherits another rebuild. The program has not enjoyed a winning season since 2009-10.

Jason Edwards resigned in March after a posting a 63-151 mark in 10 years. The J-Hawks were 6-16 last season.

All five starters return for 2022-23, and 95 percent of its scoring punch is back, led by seniors-to-be Emma Slings (13.9 points per game) and Jariah Harris (10.2 ppg).

“I want to push these girls and see if we can get the maximum out of them,” Hoeppner said. “There are definitely kids that can play basketball. There are a lot of seniors, and there’s a chance to jump in and win right away.”

Jefferson also reportedly has promising talent on the way at the middle-school level.

At West Liberty, Hoeppner was a two-time regional coach of the year. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Davenport North — compiling a 26-19 mark in two years — and an assistant at Rock Island (Ill.) for nine seasons.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com