Meet Our High School Boys Basketball Coaches
Sioux Falls Lutheran School is pleased to introduce Michael Nettik and Adam Sturm, who will coach our inaugural high school boys basketball team during the 2020-2021 school year.
Head Coach Michael Nettik graduated from Augustana University in 2013 with degrees in business administration and sports management. During his time at Augustana, Nettik spent two years as the student assistant for the men’s basketball program, which involved coaching during the season and at summer camps. In the spring of 2009 and 2010, Nettik served as the head coach of the Southwest Slam 16U in Marshall, Minnesota, where he coached his team in multiple AAU circuit tournaments in Minneapolis. In the summer of 2009 and 2010, Nettik coached the Pipestone Area JV team in the Marshall summer league. Coach Nettik currently works in sales and resides in the Sioux Falls area.
Assistant Coach Adam Sturm graduated from Augustana University in 2014 with a degree in sports management. While at Augie, Sturm held internships with Minnesota Youth Athletic Services, where he scheduled and ran basketball tournaments for grades 3-12, and the Sioux Falls Skyforce, where he was responsible for helping out in the office and during games. Coach Sturm lives on the east side of Sioux Falls and is a Red Bull sales rep for a beverage distributor.
Nettik and Sturm have 12 players signed up for the 2020-2021 season, which begins on Monday, November 30. Learn more about our new coaches by reading the Q&A below.
Q&A with Our Coaches
When and how did you first become involved in basketball?
Coach Nettik: I have played basketball since the 5th grade. It soon became my favorite sport. Once I graduated from high school, I still wanted to be involved in the sport, so I went into coaching high school freshmen and sophomores in summer leagues and AAU basketball.
Coach Sturm: I have been involved with basketball since I was about 5 years old. I am the youngest of six kids, and every single one of us played basketball starting at a young age. I was brought to so many basketball camps, practices, games and tournaments that basketball quickly became my favorite sport to watch and play.
What is your favorite thing about the game?
Coach Nettik: I love the excitement that the game can bring. It takes a lot of hard work and practice, but it’s worth the time spent once you get to play games in front of your family and friends.
Coach Sturm: My favorite thing about the game is the camaraderie and relationships being built between the players. It's awesome to see from day one what we can do with these players, not only to build their skills, but also build their teamwork.
What inspired you to get involved in coaching?
Coach Nettik: I always enjoyed the game, and once I was done playing I knew it would be something I still wanted to be a part of. I’ve had some great coaches over the years, and I want to be that leader for my own team someday.
Coach Sturm: The thing that inspired me most to get into coaching were the memories my past coaches gave me. I've had coaches in all different sports leave a lasting impression on me, and that's my goal for my players as a coach. All my favorite coaches were there to build my skills, but they were also there to guide me to be a better teammate on and off the court. I want my players to grow into young men that other people look up to.
What are you looking forward to about building a new high school basketball program?
Coach Nettik: I think the most intriguing part is a fresh start for everyone. A new basketball program is amazing, let alone a whole new athletics program. My hope is to build a consistent winning program that has kids striving to be their best mentally and physically. I also hope this program will lead to other sports programs in the future for Sioux Falls Lutheran School.
Coach Sturm: I'm looking forward to building a brand new basketball program because it'll give Coach Nettik and I the opportunity to really build a team culture from scratch and implement our own offensive and defensive schemes. I believe with our coaching ability and knowledge of the game, we can mold SFLS into a winning basketball program. Go Eagles!
About Sioux Falls Lutheran School
At Sioux Falls Lutheran School, our mission is to develop capable, Christian servant-leaders in a complex world who are World Ready and Faith Secure. We are passionate about giving our students the tools they need to be successful academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. We strive to accomplish this goal by maintaining high academic standards, employing excellent teachers, and upholding a Christian worldview drawn from Scripture. Ultimately, we are committed to partnering with parents and the church to raise lifelong learners who use their gifts and the fruits of the Spirit, in faith, to touch a troubled world with God’s grace.