Mid-Prairie boys’ basketball coach Don Showalter is leaving the school after 28 years to take the head coaching job at 4A power Iowa City High. Golden Hawk athletic director Steve Hollan is sad to see him go. “I think all of us here at Mid-Prairie hate to see him go but yet we fully support him in his new endeavors.”

Hollan ads that the impact Showalter has had in Wellman as not just a basketball coach but athletic director will be felt for many years to come.

“What he was able to accomplish at Mid-Prairie over those 28 years he was in charge here obviously speaks for itself.  He’s had a lot of great athletes come through his programs, he’s had a lot of great teams, some being state tournament teams. He’s won several conference titles and has had just a huge amount of success.  He’s just a great person and has meant a lot not only to the basketball program but to the Mid-Prairie athletic program.”

Despite all the success, the one thing that has escaped Showalter over the years at Mid-Prairie is a state title.  Following perhaps his worst season as a head coach at Mid-Prairie, finishing the season with a 5-19 record, Showalter heads to a very solid Iowa City High program that saw their rivals, Iowa City West, take the state title in both boys and girls basketball this recent season.