The girls basketball team is experiencing a change in leadership this year with new head coach Michael Kroupa. Taking over for four-time state championship coach Ann Prince is a lot to live up to, but Kroupa is ready for the task.
Kroupa has coached for 22 years now with his first coaching job at just 18 years old. He has had head coaching jobs at Brownell-Talbot College Preparatory School, Cedar Bluffs High School, Central Community College, and most recently Omaha Central High School. With all this experience he is comfortable coaching in a high school setting and knows how to push a team.
“Our defense this year is more risky or aggressive,” Kroupa said. “Last year was more conservative and the offense is a little different.”
The defense is more fast paced and crazy, and the offense switched from a dribble drive to more of a cut and screen approach.
“His coaching style is different because he came from somewhere that is not like here,” junior Sahler Smith said. “I feel like some people think his style of coaching could be very tough but I think it’s very crucial to what we are trying to do.”
Kroupa’s skill set and perspective on how to coach a team encourages players to grow together into a better team.
“He’s different because he makes us run,” Smith said. “But he’s doing it for the better of us and he wants the best for all of us.”
Both Kroupa and Prince have a high basketball intelligence that they use when coaching.
“Whether it’s me or even if Coach Prince stayed, there was going to have to be adjustments on the style that fits this personnel the best,” Kroupa said.
For any coach, there are new players every year that they have to adjust their play for.
“Coach Prince and I have known each other a long time, we exchanged film when we played common opponents, and we built a really good relationship the past few years,” Kroupa said. “When she said she was retiring, I called her two minutes later.”
Even though Kroupa comes from Class A most recently, he uses that experience to make his team more competitive in the Class B division.
“[EPS] is a great school district, the history in just four years is amazing, and the facilities,” Kroupa said. “The kids are just so great, even the middle schoolers I work with.”
Kroupa is creating his own legacy; forming relationships and having fun are a big part of his playbook.
“I try to throw some jokes in here and everything because if we take it too seriously it’s not fun,” Kroupa said. “I hope we have a little bit of fun.”
Kroupa keeps the mood light and is always straight forward. He makes sure he appeals to everyone’s strengths and keeps a happy environment.
“It’s nice to be liked,” Kroupa said. “But at the end of the day I don’t really need high schoolers to like me, I just hope they respect me and what I do.”
Kroupa likes to hear from his players. He says there are no dumb questions which helps the team understand the game he wants them to play.
“I’ve been telling people this is the deepest and most athletic team I’ve ever coached in my career,” Kroupa said.
The whole team is working to try and keep up what the previous teams have built. Kroupa is a coach who recognizes that and wants to use the player’s athletic ability to grow and win games.
On the varsity team this year there are at least four new varsity players, two of those being freshman. So, with this roster, there is a lot of growth to come.
“We’re super young,” Kroupa said. “We have a ton of girls who don’t have a lot of varsity experience. I think a great goal on the court would be to get to state.”
While he has on-the-court goals, he also has some hopes for off the court.
“My plan is to hopefully continue the success that we’ve had, really make it a really enjoyable experience,” Kroupa said. “So when you guys come back in 10 years and I’m still here, you guys come in and have a great time.”
