Nick Niemeyer hired at City High

IOWA CITY -- The son will get his chance to shine.

Nick Niemeyer has been hired as softball coach at Iowa City High, the school announced Monday."I've always admired their program," said Niemeyer, who served as 10 years as an assistant coach at Cedar Rapids Jefferson under his father, Larry Niemeyer. "It's a school full of tradition with their sports; they've got great athletes."

Niemeyer, 32, will succeed Gary Fickel at City High. He is a paraprofessional for behavior disorders at Jefferson.

"Nick not only brings a softball pedigree to our program that is second to none, he brings a passion and enthusiasm for softball that is infectious," said City High Athletics Director Terry Coleman.

The pedigree is this: Larry Niemeyer is the nation's winningest softball coach. He led the J-Hawks to three state championships (1983, 1997 and 1998).

Larry Niemeyer was let go at Jefferson after the 2012 season. He was hired at Waterloo West, but resigned before the season because of health reasons.

"He taught me how to have a winning program, how to get hids prepared to be in their best position to win," Nick said Monday morning.

"We have a lot of potential, but we've got to get kids out, and we've got to develop pitching."

City High was 19-19 last year.

Niemeyer was unsure whether his father would be on his staff next season.

Larry said, "If I help, it will be as a volunteer assistant. We'll see what happens ... I'm really happy for Nick; he'll do a great job."