Peru State Men's Basketball Coach Eric Behrens

Peru State President Dan Hanson (r) welcomes new basketball coach Eric Behrens as Athletic Director Steve Schneider looks on during a news conference Tuesday, April 29, 2014.

Peru State College basketball players listen to a news conference with new coach Eric Behrens Tuesday, April 29, 2014.

(KTNC) -  Peru State College introduced its new men’s basketball coach Thursday. Eric Behrens, who spent the past 13 years as head boys’ basketball coach at Omaha Central High School takes the reins of a Bobcat program that has struggled in recent years.
 Peru State President, Dr. Dan Hanson, welcomed Behrens to Peru State during a news conference Tuesday afternoon. Hanson said he appreciates Behrens' committment to character-driven athletics. He said it was clear during the interview process that Behrens is an educator as well as a coach.
 Behrens compiled a 283-58 record at Omaha Central, with seven Class-A state championships in 13 seasons, including four in a row from 2010 through 2013 and three straight from 2006 to 2008. He was named the 2007 Boys' High School Coach of the Year by the Omaha World-Herald and the 2008 Boys' High School Coach of the Year by the Lincoln Journal-Star. He was also named the Metro Basketball Coaches Association's Class A Boy's Coach of the Year in 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2013.
 Behrens said he’s thrilled to be at Peru State College, though he says it was not an easy decision for him to leave Central, "but the opportunity to coach at the collegiate level is one I can't pass up.
 "What impressed me most about Peru State is the passion that President Hanson, Athletic Director (Steve) Schneider, Vice President (Michaela) Willis and their teams have for the Peru State community, their students and the men's basketball program."
 Behrens says he hopes to bring championship level basketball to Peru State and said the ingredients exist for Peru State to be a successful program, as the only NAIA Division I school in the state of Nebraska.
 Behrens said there are talented players at Peru State, and his ties to the Omaha and Lincoln areas and junior colleges around the country will help him recruit players who can be successful at this level. Peru State competes in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
 More than 100 people applied for the position and Athletic Director Steve Schneider said Behrens quickly rose to the top of the list.
 "Coach Behrens' success as a coach speaks for itself, but I am most impressed with his character, ability to build relationships and his committment to excellence," Schneider said. "Peru State is positioned well for success and Eric Behrens is the right person for the job. We are eager to welcome hime to our team and look forward to supporting him as he works to achieve the goals he sets for the men's basketball program."