Alan Lochner of Spring Grove was named a 2022 Assistant Coach of the Year by the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association. The veteran mentor was one of only 10 statewide to receive the honor and the only one coaching Class A. During his 26 seasons as an assistant at Spring Grove, the Lions have won 16 SEC titles, four sub-section titles, one section championship, and a third-place finish at the 2019 state tournament. That includes more than 500 varsity victories and a dozen 20-win seasons and only two campaigns with more losses than wins. Lochner was nominated by head coach Wade Grinde, who said, “Al has been more than just an excellent assistant; he has been my friend, mentor, and father figure. There have been many occasions over the last quarter of a century where Al has spent as much time coaching me as he has (spent) coaching our players!” Lochner has educated students at Spring Grove since 1983, and in those 39 years, he has been respected as one of the best teachers on campus. While teaching Advanced Placement courses and coaching the high school knowledge bowl teams, he has had numerous former students express their gratitude for how well he prepared them for post-secondary success and careers. “Thank God for Mr. Lochner!” has been said many times in Spring Grove.