Steve Bartek possesses a basketball résumé no one else in Nebraska can claim. He’s been a college All-American, an NBA draft pick, a professional overseas player and a successful Class A coach on the boys and girls sides.
After 30 years on the sideline, Bartek is ready to transform once again in the sport he's given his life to — from coach to fan.
Bartek was somewhat open during the season that this would be his final one as the Lincoln Northeast girls basketball coach. He recently made it official, capping a nine-year stint with the Rockets in which he guided them to a 167-59 record, five state tournament appearances and a pair of semifinal finishes.
“I just finished my 40th year of basketball as a player and coach, it’s time to move on,†said Bartek, who will continue teaching physical education at Northeast and coaching reserve girls tennis for the Rockets in the spring. “It’s been a great ride, but the last couple years, I felt I was getting close. I decided before the season that I was finally ready, that this would be my last.â€
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This ends a 17-year coaching career for Bartek at Northeast after spending his first eight as the Rocket boys head coach. Northeast made the 2005 Class A state semifinals under Bartek, part of a three-year streak at state for the boys team.
“I have no regrets making that move,†Bartek said. “I was at a point where I felt I needed something fresh, and it rejuvenated me.â€
So did the quality of basketball in Lincoln that the Rockets competed against during that span. Three Lincoln schools — Southeast, East and Southwest — won state titles while Bartek was on the girls side.
This season, three Lincoln teams reached the state semifinals — East, Pius X and Southwest, this year’s state runner-up.
“Girls basketball has just been outstanding in Lincoln and it’s been an honor to be part of that,†he said. “I developed some great relationships with players and coaches during that time that will always be with me.â€
Bartek’s final Rocket team went 16-7 and just missed reaching the state tournament, losing a tight district final on the road to eventual state champion Millard North in a game Northeast led with three minutes left. Northeast was the Heartland Athletic Conference regular-season champion with a 9-1 mark.
The 6-foot-8 Bartek was a "positionless" basketball player long before the term was ever coined. His ability to go inside and outside earned him All-American honors at Doane. Bartek was then a fifth-round selection in the 1984 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors.
He played briefly overseas in Belgium before returning to Lincoln to become a probation officer.
After four years in that field, Bartek went through a career change, going into teaching and coaching. His first job was as an assistant under Tom Seib at Lincoln Pius X in 1990 before serving eight years as Malcolm’s boys’ head coach. He led Malcolm to the 1996 state tournament, the Clippers’ first appearance in 55 years.
Bartek then spent four seasons as a varsity assistant under Dave Oman at Grand Island, helping the Islanders win state championships in 1999 and 2002, before moving on to Northeast.
“Coach Oman put me in charge of some things assistants usually aren’t allowed to handle, and he really prepared me to become a Class A head coach,†said Bartek, who compiled a 200-132 record in 16 years as a boys head coach.
Besides having the time to see more high school and college games in person, Bartek is also looking forward to spending more time with family in the winter as well — wife JoAnne, daughters Brooke and Ashley, and two grandchildren.
“I guess you can never say never,†Bartek said about the possibility of coaching again. “If the grandkids would need someone to coach (their teams), I’d certainly be open to it.â€