Coach Sheryl Krmpotich, commonly known as Coach K achieved a milestone in her coaching career on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024, winning her 500th game as a high school women’s basketball coach.
Beginning her coaching career at the collegiate level, she was an assistant coach at Austin Peay State University from 1992-96 and at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from 1996-98. Shortly after being named the Bishop Gorman women’s head basketball coach in 1998, she never looked back for the next 18 years collecting hundreds of wins and multiple state championships.
Despite taking a seven year intermission following the 2016 season, she picked up right where she left off at the start of the 2023-24 season as this was her first year back in the program.
Remaining humble, Coach K stated, “This record is not about me, it’s about all the athletes that have played for me since 1998 to now. The record is theirs.”
With merely no time to celebrate her 500 wins, Coach K and her team won the NIAA 5A Women’s Basketball State Championship the following day, February 23rd, 2024. A testament to her impact, Coach K was able to take a program that has not won a championship since her last coaching term back to dominance over the state. Coach K also feels this season’s accomplishments will put Bishop Gorman women’s basketball back on the map, receiving national attention once again.
Playing as a unit, the team led by Coach K has a tight bond on and off the court which makes the entire process enjoyable. Of course more enjoyable when winning, the connection between players and coaches is what led to another banner in the House of Glory this season.
When asked about teamwork, Coach K stated, “They (the players) love the game and work together to make each other better on and off the court.”
Thinking less about the wins but more about the off-court success, Coach K preaches the values of faith, school, and family. Standing by discipline and accountability each day, these are a few main traits she felt propelled her teams to multiple successful seasons. Hoping basketball can be a stepping stone for the future of being good people in life, Coach K feels these values allow athletes to play for a cause greater than themselves, Bishop Gorman High School.
Coach K stated, “You are playing for the name on the front of the jersey not the back. Play hard, smart, and together. God, books, family, basketball in that order are key to a successful unit.”
Sheryl Krmpotich, a name that will go down in the history books for being one of the most successful coaches at Bishop Gorman and in the state of Nevada. Coach K is “honored to be back in the Bishop Gorman women’s basketball program” and is looking to add more on and off court success in the near future.
