New S.V. Eagles coach loves his landing spot

Jimmy Sindelar

ALMA, Neb. — A shot of morning fast-break espresso immediately comes through the phone call with new Southern Valley coach Jimmy Sindelar.

“I’m really excited. It’s like a dream come true to farm and coach basketball in the winter time,” Sindelar said as he’s become the official leader for these 2020 Class D-1 state finalists. “I feel pretty fortunate to take over a team with great kids like this. I coached a lot of hem in junior high, so it will be interesting to see each day how much they have developed.”

Sindelar takes over top coaching duties as Tylor Fincher recently accepted a teaching position within the Hartington school system.

Southern Valley’s Brody Yant (3) makes a move to the hoop while an Osmond Tiger defender falls during the Eagles’ 50-49 state tournament win on March 12. Yant was one of four players who averaged better than 10 points per game on the Class D-1 state finalist team, and three are set to return next season.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

Both Tylor and wife Kelsey Fincher are northeast Nebraska natives of towns near Hartington.

Meanwhile, Sindelar’s lifelong ties all revolve around south-central Nebraska.

He’s an Alma High alum who spent all those seasons learning from coach Mike Brummer.

Sindelar then attended the University of Nebraska-Kearney and took coaching classes with former NBA player/Loper great Tom Kropp.

“I learned plenty from coach Kropp. He had some unbelievable stories,” Jimmy recalled. “I’ve learned a lot whether it was coach Brummer or coach (John) Miller and Tylor at Southern Valley.”

Sindelar earned a UNK education-teaching degree and returned even closer to home at Southern Valley. He was an assistant coach for the Eagles until just two seasons ago.

“I got an incredible opportunity in farming,” he said. “So I took a break to focus on that. But I’ve stayed busy coaching elementary (basketball) teams and waiting for an opportunity like this.”

Now Jimmy jumps into an Eagle program where four players averaged 10 points or more a game last season.

The Eagles soared to 21 victories while saving those two best for last: state tournament wins over returning runner-up Osmond (50-49) and defending champion Humphrey Lindsay Holy Family (47-39).

Though the Eagles dropped that D-1 final, Sindelar knows he can add in some “surfing” skills and just keep this wave of momentum going. They should be returning three top scorers along with other talent for 2020-21.

“I don’t plan on changing a whole lot, because I think Tylor had things going really well,” he concluded. “I just want to keep it going. I plan on having a Zoom meeting with the team, and hopefully we will get some summer ball in.”