Jim Kane
Encyclopedia
Jim Kane was a Nebraska
high school football, basketball, track and cross country coach, and was named the state’s “Coach of the Year” in 1983, and was posthumously named to the state’s High School Hall of Fame.
Jim “Killer” Kane was born in West Point, Nebraska
; but he grew up in Wisner, Nebraska
, where Jim became a legendary athlete. He remains the Wisner High School all time leader in points scored in basketball, and led the school’s baseball team to a state championship. In 1980, Nebraska sports historian Jerry Mathers named Kane as Wisner's best all around athlete ever.
After graduating in 1954, he attended the University of Nebraska and played for the Cornhuskers’ baseball team. He earned All-Big Seven Conference recognition as a catcher in 1957 and 1958 before signing with the New York Yankees
. Kane played three years in their farm system, but failed to make it to the major leagues because of the presence of Yogi Berra
and Elston Howard
on the parent squad.
Kane was part of a successful pitcher/catcher combination with childhood friend Charles Ziegenbein. They played together through grade school, high school (it was their battery combination that led Wisner High to its only state high school baseball championship) and through college at Nebraska (Ziegenbein would also earn all-Big Seven honors as a pitcher in 1957-58). Ziegenbein, too, was signed by the Yankees in 1958, but did not remain with the organization, opting to pursue a business career instead. Ziegenbein died of cancer in 1972.
Well known for his carousing ways, Kane was released by the Yankees’ Columbus farm team in 1960 after the parent club felt he was an unwanted influence on his roommates, including future American League
rookie of the year Tom Tresh
, Joe Pepitone
and Tony Kubek
. Kane never played professional baseball again.
With his professional career over, Kane returned to Nebraska and began teaching at Waterloo (NE) High School. After teaching there for two years, he was hired to create from scratch the athletic programs at St. John’s Seminary, a small parochial school outside of Elkhorn, Nebraska
. Eventually, Kane would coach St. John’s (later re-named Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey and High School
) to two state titles and three runner-up titles in basketball, while achieving a career record of 547-263. In football, Kane led the Knights to two state championships while establishing a career record of 117-97, while Kane coached two state champion teams in cross country and another in track.
In 1983, the Omaha World-Herald
named Kane its “Coach of the Year”, after his Mount Michael football and basketball teams won state championships that school year.
Kane coached and taught at Mount Michael from 1964 to 2003, where he was legendary for his discipline and intensity. It is reported that at times that intensity caused him to endanger the health of the students under his watch. Sadly, his early raucous lifestyle caught up with him as he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, which took his life January 28, 2003, at the age of sixty-five. Fittingly, Kane’s funeral was in Mount Michael’s gymnasium, and he was buried in the seminary’s cemetery.
Kane was named to the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
high school football, basketball, track and cross country coach, and was named the state’s “Coach of the Year” in 1983, and was posthumously named to the state’s High School Hall of Fame.
Jim “Killer” Kane was born in West Point, Nebraska
West Point, Nebraska
West Point is a city in and the county seat of Cuming County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 3,660 at the 2000 census.-History:West Point was first founded in the spring of 1857, when Omaha businessmen formed the Nebraska Settlement Association in order to find suitable townsites in...
; but he grew up in Wisner, Nebraska
Wisner, Nebraska
Wisner is a city in Cuming County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,270 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wisner is located at ....
, where Jim became a legendary athlete. He remains the Wisner High School all time leader in points scored in basketball, and led the school’s baseball team to a state championship. In 1980, Nebraska sports historian Jerry Mathers named Kane as Wisner's best all around athlete ever.
After graduating in 1954, he attended the University of Nebraska and played for the Cornhuskers’ baseball team. He earned All-Big Seven Conference recognition as a catcher in 1957 and 1958 before signing with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. Kane played three years in their farm system, but failed to make it to the major leagues because of the presence of Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
and Elston Howard
Elston Howard
Elston Gene Howard was an American Negro League and Major League Baseball catcher, left fielder and coach. During a 14-year baseball career, he played from 1955–1968, primarily for the New York Yankees...
on the parent squad.
Kane was part of a successful pitcher/catcher combination with childhood friend Charles Ziegenbein. They played together through grade school, high school (it was their battery combination that led Wisner High to its only state high school baseball championship) and through college at Nebraska (Ziegenbein would also earn all-Big Seven honors as a pitcher in 1957-58). Ziegenbein, too, was signed by the Yankees in 1958, but did not remain with the organization, opting to pursue a business career instead. Ziegenbein died of cancer in 1972.
Well known for his carousing ways, Kane was released by the Yankees’ Columbus farm team in 1960 after the parent club felt he was an unwanted influence on his roommates, including future American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
rookie of the year Tom Tresh
Tom Tresh
Thomas Michael Tresh was a Major League Baseball infielder and outfielder who played for the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers . Tresh was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...
, Joe Pepitone
Joe Pepitone
Joseph "Joe" Anthony Pepitone is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who played the bulk of his career for the New York Yankees. He also played several seasons with the Chicago Cubs and had short stints with the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves...
and Tony Kubek
Tony Kubek
Anthony Christopher "Tony" Kubek is a retired American professional baseball player and television broadcaster....
. Kane never played professional baseball again.
With his professional career over, Kane returned to Nebraska and began teaching at Waterloo (NE) High School. After teaching there for two years, he was hired to create from scratch the athletic programs at St. John’s Seminary, a small parochial school outside of Elkhorn, Nebraska
Elkhorn, Nebraska
Elkhorn was a city in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States and is a present-day neighborhood on the western edge of Omaha. The population was 6,062 at the 2000 census and was estimated by the Census Bureau at 8,192 in 2005...
. Eventually, Kane would coach St. John’s (later re-named Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey and High School
Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey and High School
Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey and High School is a Benedictine monastic community in Elkhorn, Nebraska, USA. It is dedicated to following the example of Saint Benedict as written in the Benedictine Order. The school was founded in 1953 by the monastic community of Immaculate Conception Abbey in...
) to two state titles and three runner-up titles in basketball, while achieving a career record of 547-263. In football, Kane led the Knights to two state championships while establishing a career record of 117-97, while Kane coached two state champion teams in cross country and another in track.
In 1983, the Omaha World-Herald
Omaha World-Herald
The Omaha World-Herald, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is the primary daily newspaper of Nebraska, as well as portions of southwest Iowa. For decades it circulated daily throughout Nebraska, and in parts of Kansas, South Dakota, Missouri, Colorado and Wyoming. In 2008, distribution was reduced to the...
named Kane its “Coach of the Year”, after his Mount Michael football and basketball teams won state championships that school year.
Kane coached and taught at Mount Michael from 1964 to 2003, where he was legendary for his discipline and intensity. It is reported that at times that intensity caused him to endanger the health of the students under his watch. Sadly, his early raucous lifestyle caught up with him as he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, which took his life January 28, 2003, at the age of sixty-five. Fittingly, Kane’s funeral was in Mount Michael’s gymnasium, and he was buried in the seminary’s cemetery.
Kane was named to the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.