Thunder Ridge Basketball Coaches Resign
Thunder Ridge basketball coaches Darren Grauerholz and Devon Branch have both resigned from their head and assistant coaching positions for the Longhorns. Grauerholz has been the head coach of the girls basketball team at Thunder Ridge since the school began back in the 2008-09. Branch, who is also Grauerholz's son-in-law, has coached the Longhorn boys for the past four seasons. Grauerholz was Branch's assistant all four seasons for the boys and the past three seasons, Branch has filled the assistant role on the girls team.
Both coaches cited family as being the main reason for their decisions, expressing a desire to spend more time with them.
Over 16 seasons with the Thunder Ridge girls, Grauerholz compiled a 265-102 record and led the Lady Longhorns to the state tournament five times. In the 2018-19 season, they finished 3rd Place at the 1A State Tournament in Dodge City. Another highlight of his career was a stretch of seven straight Northern Plains League Tournament titles from 2014-20.
On the boys side, Branch went 39-43 over his four seasons as the head coach of the Longhorns. The best season was a 16-7 mark in 2022-23.
For more on this story, both coaches joined KD Country 94 and Z 96.3 "The Lake" Sports Director Dusty Deines on the Sports Ticket on Tuesday morning. Click the link below to listen.