We are grateful. We are Newell.
We are pleased to announce Chad Oliver as the head coach of the Newell High School Boys Basketball team. He is originally from Newell and graduated in 2002 from the Newell School District. Coach Oliver and our current High School Girls’ Basketball Coach, Luke Bonefield, played basketball together in high school. In fact, in 2001 the duo took the Newell School District to second place in State-A division.
Only three young men on the current Newell High School team have played ball in the past. Coach Oliver feels this affords him an opportunity to grow the team from the ground up. Because of Oliver’s unique ability to bring out the best in each team member, the results will be measurable With a priority to enjoy the game above all else Coach Oliver motivates the team to a level up. His coaching goals are to constantly build a successful basketball program while developing outstanding young men.
Coach Oliver’s roots run deep as a farmer/rancher in the Newell area. Married to his wife Liz, he has two young boys of his own. Elliott is in second grade and Korbin is in first grade. Balancing family with coaching while constantly keeping his team updated, spending hours of his own free time working with his team and never giving up on them is a constant challenge Coach Oliver cherishes.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication, Coach Oliver. Here’s to a great season!
Dan High is the assistant high school boys basketball coach and Newell is certainly pleased to welcome him. He grew up in an area of Utah where everyone ate, drank, and slept basketball! They had amazing basketball programs all over the state. Growing up, and as a coach, he saw lots of really talented kids that, because they didn’t know the right people, didn’t have the right coach, or through some other reason that was no fault of their own, never had the chance to learn the skills to help them be able to compete at a higher level. Coach High wanted to take the skills that he learned and be able to teach all kids who wanted to, to be the best basketball player they could be if they put in the work.
Coach High has been consistently coaching since 2010. He coached his oldest daughter’s teams, 5th-8th grade in Utah. Then coached the all-star teams in AAU leagues and Utah Summer Games through the state.
When asked what his coaching goals are High wants to help inspire each athlete to reach their full potential, increase basketball skills, focus on fundamentals, and learn to let individual success and team success carry over into their academics.
Married to Ashley, Coach High has 5 children. Their three youngest attend Newell School. Cooper is in 5th grade, Samantha is in 8th, and Kate is a sophomore. The others are married and have their own families. The family owns a saddle shop, High Quality Saddles, where Coach High builds saddles full time, and they work as a family selling saddles and tack all over the world.
Thanks for joining Newell Coaching Team, Coach High!
Congratulations to our teams competing in Bison Saturday. We are Newell!
The Newell Irrigators wrestled in Lusk today. Dyson Eixenberger wrestled at 120 and placed 2nd. Cody Jones wrestled 120 and placed 6th. Bodie VanDerBoom wrestled 126 and placed 3rd. Joe Eaton wrestled 132 and placed 6th. Jesse Jones wrestled 175-JV and placed 4th. Will Erk wrestled 190-JV and placed 1st. Congratulations!
December Special Board Meeting Agenda: https://5il.co/337be
Proposed 2025-2026 Newell School District calendar: https://5il.co/335o5
New district policy recommendations can be found under the School Board folder on the Newell School District website.
Double Header this weekend! (Design by Kaitlynn in the Digital Marketing Class.)
Thank you elementary coaches for a job well done You are appreciated. We are Newell!
Tonight's school board meeting will be live-streamed on Facebook for those unable to attend in person.
Congratulations to our MS Girls Basketball program! Our 5/6/7 grade team battled to a third place finish at the Cartwright Tournament in Lead on Friday. Today, the 7/8 grade team took a fifth place finish at the LMC tournament in Harding County. (photo courtesy Newell Irrigator Booster Club)
Congrats to our wrestlers for their performance at the Custer Invitational. Click here for results: https://605sports.com/Custer-wrestlers-claim-title-at-Bill-Young-Invitational
Congratulations to all the students for a wonderful Christmas program. Special thanks to everyone working behind the scenes to make it happen. It takes a team. We are Newell!
November 2024 Unofficial School Board Minutes: https://5il.co/32is4
December 2024 School Board Agenda: https://5il.co/32irv
Tonight! Make plans to join. The children have a delightful evening planned!
Join the high school Student Council as we count down to Christmas break. Show off your Christmas spirit!
***Update*** Middle and high school 8 days, elementary 4 days the last week**
Welcome Middle School Girls' Basketball Coaches:
If you have been to the middle school girls’ basketball games this year, you have seen Shawn Donahey, Head Coach and Cheryl Hohenberger, Assistant Coach, leading by example. Newell School District is privileged to have both in coaching positions.
Shawn Donahey comes from a long line of relatives residing in Newell, South Dakota, from his own family to his parents to his grandparents. He graduated from Newell High School in 1994. His wife Katie, "runs things," as he fondly stated. His daughter Nevada, a freshman, son Coy, 2nd grade, and son Haze, Kindergarten, all attend Newell School. Coach Donahey partners in a fencing business and buys and sells cattle for a living.
During his high school years in Newell, Coach Donahey felt privileged to have played basketball under Randy Faeth's direction. Faeth was a South Dakota Coach of the Year with a proven track record of taking teams to the State Level in all Divisions.
Coaching to inspire is Donahey's goal. He not only wants to help the team learn to play basketball but wants his team to take away some life skills. This year the team has a lot of new players that have never played ball. They have worked consistently on the fundamentals and shooting. Coach feels there is still a lot to do in the three weeks left in the season.
Coach Cheryl Hohenberger is focused on constant improvement and enjoys seeing the team grow in their love for the game. We are delighted to learn she will also assist Coach High with the middle school boys' basketball team.
Cheryl is married to Doug, and they ranch in the Newell area. She has four sons and four grandchildren, and her family spans from Bismarck to Summerset, Belle Fourche, and Mitchell.
Coach Cheryl played basketball in high school in Faith. After graduation, she was asked to coach in a rural country school and later in Union Center.
Coaching with Coach Donahey has inspired new perspectives for Coach Hohenberger. She feels the Newell team of coaches is exceptional and intent on taking their teams to the top level of playing.
Mrs. Geppert writes: "I’m incredibly proud of the Ag Issues team (Sorley Wetz, Orrin Youngberg, and Joe Eaton) for their outstanding performance at the state LDE competition today! Despite facing an unexpected challenge this morning and having to make quick adjustments to their presentation, they remained focused and did a fantastic job. There were 15 teams competing, and while we didn’t place in the top 10, this experience was invaluable. Make sure to tell these members good job if you see them around. The team has already been discussing how they can improve and what they’ll do differently next year. As a first-year FFA Advisor, I couldn’t be more proud of their dedication and growth. Excited to see what next year holds!" #ProudAdvisor #AgIssues #FutureLeaders
Please plan to join us for an evening of delightful entertainment. If you cannot be in attendance, click here on the evening of the program for a live stream: https://irrigators.liveticket.tv/
