Nicole Pankonen to Serve as Head Girls Basketball Coach at SFLS
Sioux Falls Lutheran School is pleased to share that Nicole Pankonen will serve as the head girls basketball coach during the 2022-23 school year.
Originally from Dell Rapids, SD, Panoken attended Augustana University as an elementary education major, where she also played basketball. She later transferred to Dakota State University where she played basketball, ran cross country, and graduated with a degree in exercise science. Coach Pankonen currently resides in Sioux Falls with her husband and children who attend SFLS. She describes her clan as a “sports family,” which can always be found practicing sports or attending a sporting event.
Check out the Q&A below to learn more about Coach Pankonen and what she looks forward to about coaching at SFLS.
Tell us about your experience with the game of basketball.
I have played sports for most of my life, but basketball has always been my favorite. I was an all-conference player in high school, making it to the State Tournament and placing third my junior year at Dell Rapids High School. I continued my basketball career at Augustana University and Dakota State University. My years at the collegiate level were some of the most memorable experiences of my life. Making it to the National Tournament three years in a row drove my ambitions, but it was the true love for the game that made me who I am today.
I know you’ve been involved with the organization Sacred Hoops in recent years. Tell us more about the organization and your role within it.
Sacred Hoops really made me fall in love with basketball all over again. I currently run the Girls East Side Program here in Sioux Falls. We are committed to skill development and want to provide everyone who wants to play in a program the chance to do so. It has been really fun to get to know lots of parents and athletes from around the state of South Dakota. We have some very talented athletes here in our state.
What inspired you to get involved in coaching?
I truly believe God has placed me on earth to teach, coach, and mentor youth through fitness and faith. I remain humble and cherish my talents in hopes that one day my legacy impacts someone that will carry on that legacy of giving back.
What are you looking forward to about coaching at SFLS?
I am so excited to have the opportunity and privilege to have a positive influence on young girls through the game of basketball. It is my goal to enhance our girls basketball program with skills and experiences that can benefit them on and off the court. I also look forward to being a part of the growth Sioux Falls Lutheran School has to offer. It is truly a blessing! 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.