Ryan Bauer has been selected as the KHS Head Wrestling and Physical Education/Strength teacher. Bauer has been the physical education teacher and Head Wrestling Coach at Lincoln Southeast High School since 2018.
"Bauer checked all of the boxes that we needed in this hire. I know he will continue the great tradition and culture we have with our wrestling program," said Ryan Hogue, KHS Activities Director/Assistant Principal. "Coach Bauer is a Kearney native, a Kearney High graduate, and former UNK wrestler. There was not a better candidate that we trusted more than him to lead this program for years to come."
Bauer has been the Head Wrestling Coach at Lincoln Southeast since 2018. He has also volunteered to help coach 9th-grade football. At Sandy Creek, Bauer was Head Wrestling Coach, Varsity Assistant Football Coach, and Assistant Middle School Track Coach. In Kearney, Bauer was the Kearney Mat Cat Club Coach for 3rd-5th grades. Bauer was part of the UNK wrestling team from 2011-2016 and was on two National Championship Teams (2012, 2013), and was also a 4x Academic All-American.
“It is an honor to be selected as the next head coach of the Kearney High wrestling program,” said Bauer. “I look forward to carrying on the tradition of excellence that Tom McCann and Ty Swarm have laid before me. Kearney and Kearney High School has always been "home" and is foundational in who I am. I am excited to be back to wearing the blue and gold!”
In addition to Lincoln Southeast, Bauer taught PE/Health/Weights at Sandy Creek Public Schools in Fairfield, Nebraska. He did his student teaching at Sunrise Middle School, Northeast, and Glenwood Elementary schools.
"We are equally excited that Mr. Bauer will join our Physical Education Dep
artment as a physical education/strength teacher at Kearney High. Mr. Bauer does a phenomenal job motivating his students, building strong relationships, and helping all of his students reach their full potential in the classroom. Great teachers make great coaches, and that is definitely the case with Coach Bauer," said Hogue.
Bauer received his Bachelor of Arts in Education at the University of Nebraska - Kearney.
Bauer will replace Ty Swarm, who resigned to become the KHS Assistant Principal. Bauer is the son of Marc Bauer, UNK Athletic Director.