EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday or Friday throughout the calendar year.
By A.J. Gates, Herald Independent
Erin Kerkhoff, Jamie Nebel and Justice Udelhofen, Potosi varsity head coaches
POTOSI — The impact of high school coaches on impressionable teenage athletes can often times go unnoticed or overlooked, but that certainly isn’t the case for three coaches at Potosi High School.
Whether it’s their love for sports, their allegiance to their alma mater, or their desire to lead, the coaching carousel at Potosi High School has done a complete 360 with the hiring of three former athletes who were once Chieftains themselves.
Erin (Kalina) Kerkhoff, Jamie Nebel and Justice Udelhofen are following in the footsteps of their former high school coaches, and are doing it on the same fields and courts they played on as high school athletes.
Kerkhoff, who is a 1996 graduate of Potosi High School, was hired last spring as the Potosi/Cassville varsity softball coach, and led the Chieftains to a Six Rivers conference record of 6-11 last season.
Nebel, who is a 1999 graduate of Potosi High School, was hired as the varsity girls basketball head coach for Potosi/Cassville prior to the 2024-25 basketball season, leading last year’s team to a 5-10 conference record and an overall mark of 10-16.
Udelhofen, who is a 2020 graduate of PHS, just concluded her first season as varsity volleyball coach for the Chieftains, who finished conference play with a 6-6 record, while going 14-13 overall.
With none of the three on staff at the Potosi School District, coaching was never at the forefront of their career choices, though they all make time to give back to both the sport and school they have loved for years.
Erin Kerkhoff, Potosi/Cassville softball coach
Kerkhoff, who is employed at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore as a graphics & web design instructor and marketing specialist, began coaching her daughter’s youth softball team, which eventually led to her taking an assistant coaching position at PHS under head softball coach Mark Siegert before becoming head coach in the spring of 2025.
“I’ve always had a love and passion for softball, and when my daughter started showing the same interest in the sport, I saw it as an opportunity to give back and share that passion and knowledge with her and other young girls in this community,” explained Kerkhoff.
During her high school years, Kerkhoff was starting catcher for the Chieftains under head coach Jane (Liegel) Briehl, earning first-team all-conference honors in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996. She was named the team MVP following her freshman, junior and senior seasons, was a first-team All-State selection and played in the WFSCA All-Star Game.
“I was lucky enough to have amazing coaches in all three sports I played in high school. Every one of my coaches played a huge role during that time of my life, and each taught me something and influenced me in their own way in the sports they coached,” Kerkhoff added. “I think I connected more with Jane Briehl, who was both my softball and volleyball coach. We both share a passion for softball, so that mutual love for the game gave us a unique bond. She was someone I respected, looked up to, and always wanted to work my hardest for. She was, and still is, an amazing mentor.”
“My high school coaches have had a huge impact on me, not just in sports, but in life. They taught me the importance of working hard and always giving my best effort, how to push through challenges and maybe most importantly how to be a good teammate and leader,” Kerkhoff added. “Success isn’t just about talent, but about attitude, effort and how you treat the people around you. That’s something I carry with me in all parts of my life and what I strive to pass on to the girls I coach.”
Jamie Nebel, Potosi/Cassville girls basketball coach
Nebel, who is employed at Klauer Manufacturing in Dubuque as shipping and receiving manager, did some coaching prior to being hired at Potosi with the Dodgeville and Reedsburg girls’ basketball programs, and also coached at JustAGame Fieldhouse with AAU athletes, and held skill sessions for different groups throughout the years.
She was somewhat of a gym rat growing up in Potosi, where she played on the varsity team for coach Eric Briehl all four years and finished her high school career with 1,309 points. She was unarguably the team’s leader during their division 4 state runner-up run in 1999.
She earned honorable-mention honors as a freshman, and first-team all-conference honors at the
conclusion of her sophomore and senior seasons. She was also named Player of the Year in the Blackhawk Conference as a senior, and earned honorable-mention All-State honors.
After high school, Nebel went on to play college basketball at UW-Parkside from 1999 to 2003, where she remains eighth in career steals with 157.
“From a young age I have always had a passion and love for basketball, and that just stuck with me after college and led me to coaching,” explained Nebel. “I found it meaningful to build confidence in others and guide them through challenges on and off the court.”
“Coaching for Potosi/Cassville has brought a different sense of pride and responsibility as an alumni, and I am honored to give back to the community that helped shape me,” Nebel added.
“My coaches from Potosi High School helped instill accountability, teamwork, sacrifice and discipline to name a few,” said Nebel. “They pushed me to be the best version of myself on and off the court and challenged me to be a leader. The guidance they provided helped shape me into the person I have become today. They all offered something different and sometimes they helped me at times when I did not realize I needed it.”
Justice Udelhofen, Potosi volleyball coach
Udelhofen, who currently works with Aflac in Platteville as a sales associate, served as the J.V. volleyball coach at Potosi under coaches Jolene Murray and Tammy Cooley for three seasons prior to becoming the head coach this past season.
As a senior at PHS, Udelhofen earned second-team all-conference volleyball honors under head coach Jolene Murray.
“I had a ton of great coaches throughout high school. They were all great role models, and I truly don’t think I would be the person I am today without their guidance and help,” Udelhofen said.
“The coaches I’ve been surrounded by have had such a big impact on who I am, and now I have the same opportunity,” Udelhofen added. “I have a new appreciation for not only what my coaches did for me, but I also understand why they did it. I’ve never felt so rewarded.”
“As a coach now, I love seeing the growth happen from season to season and athlete to athlete. I think it is super cool that I get the opportunity to impact and help these young kids.”
When it comes to developing their individual coaching styles and philosophies, there remains a learning curve for these young coaches, who are either still figuring it out, or know exactly how to utilize their leadership role.
“I think I am still developing my style to some degree, and it also depends on the team around you,” said Nebel. “I think you need to be flexible, willing to change and willing to let others help and continue to learn.”
Like Nebel, Udelhofen is also still figuring out exactly what her coaching style and philosophy are, though she already has a pretty good grasp of where to start.
“So far, I’ve been seeing some success when I have been patient. I’ve learned that I do not need to yell and scream for athletes or others to respect me as a coach. I can accomplish more when I am composed and more focused on helping and teaching each athlete,” Udelhofen explained.
Kerkhoff knows exactly what she hopes to accomplish as head coach, and it has very little to do with wins and losses.
“I would say my coaching philosophy is built on effort, attitude and growth,” said Kerkhoff. “I believe success isn’t just measured by wins, but by how hard we work, how we respond to challenges and how we treat each other as teammates and friends.”
“Mistakes are part of learning the game, and my goal is to create an environment where student-athletes feel safe to push themselves, make mistakes, learn, grow and build confidence,” Kerkhoff added. “I want to help each athlete reach her full potential, not just as a player, but as a young adult.”
As Kerkhoff, Nebel and Udelhofen all embark on their coaching careers at Potosi High School, it’s evident the coaches they had as players at PHS made a significant impact on them. That impact will most likely be passed on to another generations of young Chieftains, and who knows, perhaps a generation of future PHS coaches.
