Jackson Kane was announced as the new West Central Heat varsity girls basketball head coach at the District #235 school board meeting on Wednesday night. Kane is no stranger to West Central athletics. He was most recently Heat boys basketball head coach Mike Kelley’s varsity assistant, as well as the junior varsity head coach. Kane has also coached junior high basketball and football for the West Central school district, as well. During Kane’s playing days, he was a part of several successful basketball programs, such as Monmouth-Roseville, Southeastern Community College and Division I Bradley University.
Kane will be taking the program over for Shane Tucker. Tucker is the athletic director for West Central High School and was the interim girls basketball head coach during the last week of the 2018-2019 season. He led West Central to the regional championship during his short time with the team in 2019. Last season, Tucker remained as head coach during a (16-12) overall season. West Central eventually lost to Annawan in a Class 1A regional semi-final. The Lady Heat placed 4th in the Lincoln Trail Conference at (6-3).
Coach Kane visited the AM 1330/FM 94.1 WRAM Morning Show on Friday morning and talked Heat basketball with Prairie Communications Sports Director Shawn Temple.