Todd Kuntz hired as new Cedar Rapids Prairie head boys’ basketball coach

CEDAR RAPIDS — It’s a smidgen outside The Gazette’s primary coverage area, so perhaps you’re not especially aware of Dunkerton’s boys’ basketball program.

It’s good, has been historically, including the last few years.

The Raiders qualified for this past season’s state tournament in Class 1A, have a 38-game win streak going in the Iowa Star Conference. Todd Kuntz said it was tough to leave all that he has built.

But when he saw there was a head-coach opening at Cedar Rapids Prairie, he just had to apply. And, as it was announced Tuesday, eventually secure.

“Shear excitement,” Kuntz said. “Dunkerton is just a great place, and it’s so hard to leave. I worked with amazing people and amazing kids. They are still going to be really good ... That aspect of it has been incredibly bittersweet. Sitting down and talking to my players this afternoon, that was not an easy conversation to get through just because I have invested so much here.

“But, for my family, it’s an incredible opportunity. Then from a basketball standpoint, I don’t think there are many jobs better than Cedar Rapids Prairie. It’s an incredible school district, their culture seems amazing, their leadership is phenomenal. We know that in every single sport they are competitive, and they’ve got kids who share and are multi-sport athletes. Everything I have learned in the last month has blown me away. Just a special district they have there.”

Kuntz spent seven years as head coach at Dunkerton. He also coached at Denver for a season and at Waterloo Christian (formerly Waterloo Walnut Ridge) for seven. He’s got a 15-year career record of 221-131.

At Prairie, he replaces Jeremy Rickertsen, who recently announced he was leaving coaching for the time being. Rickertsen guided the Hawks to the state tournament semifinals in Class 4A in 2022.

“We are extremely excited for Todd to lead our program,” said Prairie Activities Director Rocky Bennett. “He is a proven winner at the high-school level and will do a tremendous job fostering strong relationships with our athletes, parents and our school community.”

“I know I can create a culture where the kids want to be a part of it,” Kuntz said.

Prairie went 5-17 this past season

“I love to play fast,” Kuntz said. “I like to pressure the ball. Maybe not quite as much as North Linn, but certainly we are going to play higher-scoring games, get up and down. I know the 4A game, the MVC, in particular, is going to be a different game, a different style than where I’ve been the last few years. But I know I’ll adapt. We’re going to play fast, we’re going to have fun and get our shots up.”

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