The past year for Bill Nienstedt felt different, not coaching basketball.
Nienstedt wanted to focus on family and watching his grandsons play. However, thoughts changed for Nienstedt when the Emporia High girls basketball coaching position opened up late last month.
Nienstedt will be returning to Emporia High, guiding the girls basketball program, a place where he spent 12 seasons guiding the Lady Spartans after stepping down in 2013. Nienstedt’s hiring as the next Emporia High girls basketball coach was approved by the USD 253 Board of Education during their regular board meeting on Wednesday.
Nienstedt said he’s excited to guide the Lady Spartans once again. The Lady Spartans will be returning four starters from last year’s team, including second-team All-Centennial League selection Maycee Davis and honorable mention pick Bailey Wiltz.
Nienstedt has retained assistant coaches Bob Miller and Brett Stewart. Miller is a long-time assistant coach of the Lady Spartans and was an assistant during Nienstedt’s first stint as head coach of the Lady Spartans. Stewart is another long-time coach serving as an assistant on Carolyn Dorsey and Taylor Scott’s staff. Nienstedt replaces Scott, who stepped down in May after one season as head coach and five seasons with the program after a 4-17 season.
