Sidney's Ekart selected as assistant coach for 2015 Nebraska Shrine Bowl

Sidney High School football coach Todd Ekart has been selected as a coach for the North team in the 2015 Nebraska Shrine Bowl.

The Shrine Bowl, which started in 1958, was created to honor outstanding graduating high school football players and coaches throughout the state. All proceeds from the game are donated directly to Shriner's Hospital for Children.

The hospital has several branches located throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico and is known for offering free, advanced medical care to children under the age of 18. It system specializes in child assistance, conducting burn research and treating burns.

This is Ekart's first selection as a coach to the Shrine Bowl. But this game means far more than just the experience of coaching, the collection of premier talent from around Nebraska or the final score. He says he is honored to have been recognized as a talented coach, but has something greater on his wish list come June.

"I'm actually looking forward to visiting the Shriners hospital with the players," Ekart said. 

The players for the bowl, will will be held June 6 at Foster Field on the campus of Nebraska-Kearney, will be selected in March. Ekart says he hopes to be able to share the honor with some of his own players.

Sidney's Tucker Wintholz, a 6-foot, 4-inch 320-pound offensive lineman, played in the game last summer. He's playing for Chadron State this fall.

The 2010-11 season was Ekart's first at the helm of Sidney's program, a year in which the Red Raiders struggled, going 0-9. His mission was to build a successful team from the ground up, which always takes time. 

All of Ekart's work and patience finally paid off last season. He led the Red Raiders to the playoffs for the first time in 19 years. Sidney fell in the first round of the playoffs to then-No. 5 Gretna, 24-17, as the Dragons scored the winning touchdown with under 45 seconds left. But it was still quite an accomplishment to get back into the playoffs after nearly two decades of absence. 

This season the Red Raiders are 2-0 to start the year and have outscored their opposition, 91-6. Sidney's starting defense hasn't allow a point this season.

Ekart played his high school ball as a quarterback and defensive back at Superior High School in Superior, Neb. Unlike many high school athletes, Ekart was drawn more to the opportunities of coaching. He played defensive back at Concordia University in Seward and then got his chance to coach.

"I did not really have any goals to play professionally," Ekart said. "I did like coaching and spent one year as a student assistant at Concordia."

To be on the sideline with coaches from other state heavyweight schools reflects Ekart's own goal of building his program into a state contender.

"It (his selection) shows that we have come a long way in establishing ourselves as a quality program," Ekart. 

Larry Martin of Omaha North was chosen as the head coach of the North squad, while Doug Goltz of Falls City Sacred Heart was selected to lead the South team. Martin's Vikings were Nebraska class A state champions in 2013 and are currently ranked No. 1 in the state this season. Goltz led the Irish to the D-2 state title in 2013 and his team is also ranked No. 1 in the state in their class.

The North's assistant coaches are Ekart, Andrew Carlson of Battle Creek, Charlie Shoemaker of Grand Island Central Catholic, Todd O'Neill of Omaha North and Randy Rouse of Omaha Benson. South assistants will be Ryan Gottula of Lincoln Southeast, Jim Jacobsen of Norris, Phil Truax of Dundy County-Stratton, Lynn Jurgens of Wilber-Clatonia and Matt Farup of Lincoln Christian.