NORTH PLATTE, NE, May 22, 2023 – North Platte Public Schools is pleased to announce head coaching hires Ricky Holm, Laura Johnson, John Lehmer, and John Little.
Ricky Holm is excited and humbled by the opportunity to be the next head baseball coach at North Platte High School. Ricky, originally from the Seattle area, played baseball at Everett Community College before transferring to Bellevue University where he played in 2013 and 2014. He also received his BS in History from Bellevue University. Ricky has 11 years of coaching experience, both as head and assistant coach ranging in ages from 11-30. The last 3 years he has been the Head Coach of the Seniors American Legion program where he has helped guide the team to an 88-62 record and one State Playoff appearance. Ricky was also an assistant coach under John Byrn for the inaugural season of North Platte High School baseball. Ricky has been a substitute teacher in the North Platte Public School district for the past 4 years and will be working towards his teaching certification this upcoming year. Ricky has also been an assistant coach for football and intramural basketball at Adams Middle School. He is married to Kaite Holm(Franzen), originally from North Platte. They recently welcomed their first child, Maximus, this past November.
Laura Johnson has been named as the new girls head wrestling coach at North Platte High School. Coach Johnson has been around girls wrestling and is excited about the challenge of leading the NPHS program. She was the assistant softball coach at Concordia University for one year after being a four-year starter for the Bulldogs. She was an assistant softball coach at Wesleyan University for one year and then at Doane College for two years. She was an assistant softball coach at Lincoln East High School, Lincoln Southwest High School and Cozad High School. Coach Johnson founded the Norton Stealerz softball organization with teams 18U to 10U providing opportunities for young athletes to play competitive travel softball. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in coaching female athletes to excel. Coach Johnson is honored for the opportunity and excited to help NPHS athletes develop their talents on and off the mat while competing at the highest level.
John R. Lehmer has accepted the head coaching position for boys and girls tennis at NPHS. Coach Lehmer is a USPTA Elite Level Tennis Professional. He is experienced in coaching tennis at every level. With a background as a former NCAA D1 player and coach, Coach Lehmer understands the sport of tennis from the basic fundamentals to competing at an advanced level. His time as a coach for both girls and boys high school tennis has been a testament of “building better human beings one player at a time”.
John Little has been named as the head coach for the boys wrestling program. Mr. Little was born and raised in North Platte along with his four sisters and brother. They all attended school in North Platte. Mr. Little attended North Platte High school from 1983 through 1986, wrestled varsity for three years, and qualified for state as a junior. After high school, Mr. Little went to MidPlains Voc Tech for electrical technology until August of 1987 when he enlisted in the navy. Mr. Little spent 6 years in the navy and was part of Desert Shield/Storm in 1990/91, and was honorably discharged in July of 1993. Mr. Little is married to his wife, Natalee, and they have five children together, Tracee, Rory, Johnee, Kaysee and Rory, and 2 adopted children Shea, and Serenity. They also have 6 grandchildren Peighton, Kinlee, Jace, Keslee, Samaira, and Sloane. Rory and Brock wrestled for North Platte, while Johnee and Kaysee played softball. Mr. Little began his coaching career in 1997 when his oldest son asked to wrestle for Hershey’s club. They switched to North Platte’s wrestling club when he was in the fourth grade where he continues to coach. Mr. Little was hired as the assistant varsity wrestling coach for North Platte High School in the 07-08 season and has been there since. Mr. Little is currently taking classes for his degree in Physical Education and Health which he plans to complete by July of this year. Mr. Little looks forward to continuing the tradition and success that they have built over his years.
