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Coach K Shares Goals on Upcoming Beavers Boys Hoops Season
By,
Jack Meyer
Reedsburg Features caught up with Justin Kuhnau ‘01, the new Varsity Boys Basketball coach, as he ramped up the program for its first full week of practice. In this interview, Kuhnau shares a bit about his history with basketball, Reedsburg and some of the things that inspire him about the game and coaching.
The Beavers kick off their season on the road at Mount Horeb on Friday, Dec. 5.
Q: What does your basketball background look like and how do you think that will aid you in coaching the team?
A.Growing up in Reedsburg, my earliest memories of basketball are tied to sitting in the high school gym and watching Coach Doc Kohler lead the Beavers. At a young age, I admired the way he carried himself, the way he taught the game, and the pride he brought to our community. Those nights in the gym sparked something in me—a vision of someday being in that same position, guiding Reedsburg student athletes and continuing the tradition of hard-nosed, team-first basketball.
Basketball was also central to my upbringing at home. I grew up watching my dad coach, learning from the way he built relationships, taught fundamentals, and held high standards while still creating a positive environment. Having him coach me through high school shaped both who I am as a player and who I’ve become as a coach. He taught me that success doesn’t come from shortcuts; it comes from consistency, character, and competing the right way.
My playing career took me to the collegiate level at Concordia–St. Paul and Edgewood University, where I had the opportunity to play with and learn from talented teammates and coaches—many of whom are now coaching in the NBA and at prominent NCAA programs. Being around that level of basketball exposed me to modern concepts of player development, scouting, film study, and culture-building. It taught me how to see the game from different perspectives and adapt to multiple coaching styles. Most importantly, it reinforced the value of accountability, communication, and trust within a team.
All those experiences—growing up in Reedsburg, shaped by my father’s coaching, learning under Coach Kohler’s influence, and competing at the collegiate level—have prepared me to lead the Reedsburg Beavers boys’ basketball program. They’ve given me a foundation rooted in community, a passion for teaching the game the right way, and the tools to help our players grow on and off the court. My goal is to honor the tradition I grew up admiring while continuing to elevate our program and give today’s players the same opportunities that inspired me years ago.
Q. What do you hope to accomplish with this team this year and what's your goal in the years to come?
A.As a program, our goals center on developing our players into strong leaders both on and off the court. We are committed to building young men who demonstrate character, accountability, and a team-first mindset. Each season, we strive to compete for a Badger Conference Championship while focusing on continual growth so that we’re playing our best basketball in the month of March. This commitment to leadership, development, and competitive excellence defines who we are as Reedsburg Basketball.
Q. What are you most excited about in your first year of coaching this team?
A.I’m looking forward to building our program with purpose—developing strong relationships, creating a true brotherhood, and helping our players grow together every day. Most of all, I’m excited to see us become the best team we can be throughout the season and to represent Reedsburg with pride, toughness, and unity.
Q. Are there any changes you'd like to make in the way the team plays or practices?
A. We have a lot of hardworking, blue-collar student athletes, and I want that mentality to be our foundation all season long. Any changes we make will be rooted in effort, toughness, and consistency. We will practice the way we want to play—with energy, focus, and a competitive edge—so that our identity carries over into every game.
Q. How would you define a successful team?
A.We define a successful team not by how we start the season, but by how we finish it. Success for our program means growing every day and playing our best basketball at the end of the year in March. It also means competing with joy, passion, and grit—representing Reedsburg with pride and giving everything we have to each other and to the game.
Q.Who is your favorite basketball player of all time? Why?
A. My favorite basketball player of all time is Michael Jordan. Growing up in the late ’80s and ’90s, watching Jordan play was something special. Every time he stepped on the court, it felt like anything could happen. He wasn’t just the most talented player, he was the most competitive, the most driven, and the most fearless.
What made Jordan my favorite wasn’t just the scoring or the championships. It was the way he approached the game: his work ethic, his fire, and his belief that no moment was too big. He showed what it looked like to push yourself, to rise to challenges, and to perform when it mattered most.
For me, watching Jordan as a kid wasn’t just entertainment—it shaped how I think about sports, competition, and leadership. He inspired me to work harder, expect more from myself, and always stay locked in on the goal. And that’s the same mindset I hope to bring to our program.
Q.Who is your favorite professional basketball team? Why?
My favorite professional basketball team is the Milwaukee Bucks
Why?
Kareem Abdul Kabbar
Oscar Robertson
Sidney Moncrief
Jack Sikma
Terry Cummings
Bob Dandridge
Marques Johnson
Sam Cassell
Ray Allen
Vin Baker
Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson
Kris Middelton
Jrue Holiday
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The list can go on and on….
Reedsburg Features thanks and welcomes Coach Kuhnau back to RAHS and wishes him and the team all the best of luck in the upcoming season!
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