AlenaKehm

With a new coach at the wheel and 19 regular season contests awaiting them, the Crusaders are excited for the basketball season ahead. 

 Their biggest goal? “Making it back to the state tournament. No question about it,” said Coach Eric Thompson. The last time the Crusaders had a chance to take the title was in 2010. After 15 years without a run at the championship trophy, the Crusaders are more ready than ever to be back in Lincoln.  

Many know Coach Thompson as a Marian math teacher and Marian dad. What some may not know is that he has been coaching basketball for more than two decades. This season will be his first year as head coach and his sixth year of coaching at Marian. His oldest daughter, Aubrey, graduated from Marian in 2025 and is now attending Rockhurst University. His next oldest daughter Brynley is a ninth grader who earned a spot on the JV team. 

“Having my dad as a coach has been fun,” Brynley said. Although this is her first year at Marian, Brynley has had her dad as a coach for club basketball in past years. “It’s kind of stressful sometimes though…but overall I think it’s been a good experience,” Brynley said. 

Although she isn’t on the varsity squad, Brynley has full faith that the Crusaders will find success in their season, including a run for the state title. “They can get there,” said Brynley.

Both Brynley and Coach Thompson will be experiencing their new roles together. “Since it’s my first full year, we’re going to do things differently,” Coach Thompson said. “We’re going to talk about our systems, our offense [and] defense differently…it’s going to be a learning curve for everybody. Even for the kids who are experienced.” 

But these changes are nothing the team can’t handle, thanks in large part to their senior leadership. 

“We’ve got kids that have been around for a handful of years, and I think even though it is a new coaching staff, they still understand the expectations,” Thompson said. 

It’s not just the coaches who have high hopes, the seniors are coming in with goals of their own. “I expect that they are going to have higher standards than anybody else…[and] that’s going to raise the bar for our program,” Thompson said. 

Senior Emelia Daubendiek takes her leadership role seriously. “I have to be an example for the younger kids…what I do affects what they do,” Daubendiek said. She agrees that one of her biggest goals for the season is to make it to the state tournament, but also thinks that “team growth and everybody continuing to work hard,” will be a major target for her as a leader this year. 

Alongside Daubendiek, seniors Paige Miller, Lauren Carlsen and Riley Sommers hope to lead the team in a successful season.

Their ambitious team leadership, and new head coach has set the Crusaders up for a great season. All they need is support from fans. “We love to have a lot of loud, rambunctious, obnoxious people behind us,” Thompson said. He encourages all students to get out and support him in his first year as coach, and support the success of the team. 

The Crusaders hosted their first game of the season on Dec. 4 against the Papillion-La Vista Monarchs.Down by 6 at the half, Thompson’s first win as head coach seemed just out of reach. However, a high scoring second half lead Marian to a 58-47 victory over the Monarchs. 

Coach Thompson had a celebrity in the stands for his first official win as head coach. Professional boxer and Omaha native, Terence “Bud” Crawford was in attendance and took pictures with the team post game. The Junior Varsity team also found success, winning their game against Papio, 56-53. The Crusaders hope to defeat Norfolk at their next away game on Dec. 9 and will host Bellevue East for the next home game on Dec. 12.