Johnson Publications file photo
“Dick Thurin and the last side line conference of the year” reads the caption from this file photo of the state championship game printed in the March 6, 1985 issue of the Grant Tribune-Sentinel.
Thurin announces retirement after nearly 50 years in coaching
By Brooke Pankonin
Grant Tribune-Sentinel
Richard (Dick) Thurin of Grant, North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball coach and former Grant teacher and coach, announced his retirement after this season.
Thurin started teaching history in Grant in 1968. After assisting Larry Pritchett with the boys basketball program, then superintendent E. Lee Todd asked him if he would be interested in starting a girls basketball program, which was just starting to gain popularity in the area. Thurin started the program during the 1975-76 season.
He said he was fortunate to have girls with skills because they played basketball at home with their brothers, and that really helped the program.
At that time, there was not an alternating possession for jump balls, so a lot of time was spent on jumping ball, taking the ball out due to traveling calls, etc. He said it made it a slow-moving basketball game, but it gradually got better as the girls’ skill level increased.