Longtime basketball coach to be inducted into Hall of Fame
Charlotte, N.C. – The National Junior College Athletic Association announced that longtime North Platte Community College Knights men’s basketball Head Coach Kevin O’Connor has been selected to be inducted into the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
“It is very humbling to receive this recognition by the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame,” said O’Connor. “Though this award is given to an individual, it could never have been accomplished without the dedication and hard work of many assistant coaches and players who I had the privilege to work with over the years.”
O’Connor was a fixture on the sideline for the black and gold for 39 years, owning a 744-439 overall record during his tenure. The winningest coach in Region IX men’s basketball history guided North Platte to two NJCAA National Tournament appearances and 22 Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference titles.
During his prestigious career, O’Connor was named Region IX Coach of the Year four times, while also earning NCCAC Coach of the Year honors over 20 times and Omaha World Herald’s Male College Coach of the Year in 2013.
“I owe a great deal of gratitude to Steve Aggers, who was my college coach, and took a chance on hiring me to be an assistant straight out of Kearney State College at the College of Great Falls in 1980,” said O’Connor. “The knowledge and experience I gained working for him became the foundation for what we built here.”
O’Connor is thankful for the community of North Platte and the college for the many years of support. He stated that this honor would not be meaningful without the support of his wife Cindy and son Sean.
O’Connor will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Paul Cisek (Brookdale Community College) and Ed Janka during the NJCAA Hall of Fame Award Dinner in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 17.
