CRETE, NE — One of the assistants on Crete's boys basketball staff is heading back west to lead his alma mater on the hardwood. 

Crete assistant coach Trey Winkler announced Monday he has accepted the head coach position at Gering High School, the high school he attended. 

"The community of Crete has some special people in it. My time at Crete High School has been a blessing and I've had many mentors within the school that have poured into me and have shown me what being a great leader looks like. From the top to the bottom, Crete school system [sic] is top notch and I'm thankful to have been apart of it," Trey Winkler wrote in a social media post. 

Winkler is a 2017 graduate from Gering High School. He went on to play collegiately at Black Hills State, Rainy River Community College and Doane. 

This season, Trey helped guide the Crete Cardinals to the program first win at the NSAA state boys basketball tournament since 2007. Crete ended its season nearly upsetting top-seed Omaha Skutt Catholic in the semifinals, but lost 57-55, and finished with a 19-7 record. 

He'll take over the position from his father Rick Winkler who served as Gering's interim coach this past season.

Gering Public Schools appointed Rick to the position in December after former head coach Kyle Cotton was dismissed by the school early in the 2022-23 season.

The Bulldogs finished last season 13-13, falling to Elkhorn in the Class B-4 district final. Gering last made the state boys basketball tournament in 2012.