From Storm Lake to the Hawkeyes: A community cheers on one of its own

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) — For some Iowa basketball fans, the Hawkeyes’ game in Sioux City was about more than cheering on their favorite team.

It was a chance to watch someone they’ve known since his days in Storm Lake chase a dream close to home.

Leo Gallagher met Iowa basketball player Jaidyn Coon through his father, Marty Gallagher, who was an assistant coach at Storm Lake High School. Leo and his brother helped manage the team and attended practices and games.

“He’s like one of the nicest people you could ever meet,” Leo said. “He always says thank you. Feels like he’s never in a bad mood.”

Dressed in Hawkeye gear, including a Coon jersey, Leo said he and his family would be watching from courtside.

“This is actually going to be like a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Leo said.

The game also held special meaning for his father. Marty Gallagher coached Coon during his junior and senior years at Storm Lake.

Years earlier, Gallagher was the head boys basketball coach in Storm Lake and worked with Iowa head coach Ben McCollum at basketball camps when McCollum was in middle school.

“Super proud of both Ben and Jaidyn,” Marty Gallagher said. “Both are from great families, really easy to root for. And as diehard Iowa fans, we couldn’t be more thrilled for both of them.”

Storm Lake head basketball coach Evan Franzmeier said the community rallied around Coon during his high school career and continues to support him.

“He’s done it the right way and stayed humble throughout the whole process,” Franzmeier said. “And I think that just gets the community to want to believe in him, want to support him.”

Franzmeier said the Sioux City game offered fans from the western side of the state an opportunity to see Coon play without traveling all the way to Iowa City.

For Leo, the courtside experience came with a simple hope for the Hawkeyes and his friend.

“You got to love them Hawkeyes,” Leo said.

It was a proud moment for the Storm Lake community, watching one of its own take the court as a Hawkeye.

From Storm Lake practices to a courtside seat in Sioux City, an entire community still cheering for someone they’ve watched grow on and off the court.

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