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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Coach Lonny Polacek

Lonny Polacek


Alma Mater: University of Nebraska-Lincoln (B.S. 1980)
Alma Mater: Wayne State College (M.S. 1987)
Experience: 16th Year at UNK


Coaching & Administrative Career
  • 2010-Present: Nebraska-Kearney (pole vault and high jump)
  • 2004-2012: Kearney Public Schools (coach)
  • 2001-2004: Holdrege Public Schools (athletic director)
  • 1981-2001: Newcastle Public Schools (coach)
 
UNK Coaching Highlights
  • Coached 17 All-Americans
  • Coached 35 national qualifiers
  • Coached 4 athletes to top-four finishes at NCAA Championships, including high jump runner-up
  • Coached 10 conference champions
  • Coached 22 conference medalists (85 conference placers total)
  • Coached school record-holders in women’s pole vault and men’s high jump
  • Coached 2 event squads that were ranked #2 in D2 nationally
  • Coached high jumper Brayden Sorensen in two USATF Championships including a seventh-place finish
  • Coached 26 USTFCCCA All-Academic award winners
 
Prior to UNK
  • Coached 3 high school state runner-up track & field teams
  • Coached a high school state runner-up basketball team
  • Coached athletes to 4 Nebraska high school state track & field records
  • Served as athletic director at Holdrege High School for 4 years
  • Served on NSAA high school track & field committee 4 times
  • Served on NSAA middle school board for 2 years
 
Personal
  • Married to former Shawn (Carroll) Polacek
  • Lonny and Shawn’s son, Nate, was an All-American pole vaulter for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Graduated from Prague H.S. in Nebraska

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