Gretna Mourns the Loss of Beloved Coach David “Digger” Hawkins Following Tragic Car Accident

The Gretna community and the broader high school athletics world are mourning the tragic loss of David “Digger” Hawkins, former head soccer coach at Gretna High School, who passed away early Sunday, June 22, 2025, following a fatal car accident. His departure at age 47 leaves an unfillable void in the hearts of countless players, colleagues, and friends.

⚽ Legacy of a State-Champion Coach

• Under Pepper’s leadership, the Gretna girls’ soccer team captured the State Championship in 2014, and he guided them through multiple deep playoff runs

• Beyond the high school, Digger held significant roles:

  • Director of Coaching at Gretna Soccer Club

  • Assistant coach for the Creighton University women’s soccer program

  • Staff member for the Nebraska Olympic Development Program (ODP)

• For over a decade, he mentored hundreds of aspiring athletes through local camps, premier academies, and club programs, fueling a passion for soccer and personal growth .

🧠 Mentor, Leader, Friend

Digger was respected not only for his strategic mind but for the profound connections he built:

• He was known for fiercely competitive coaching, emphasizing discipline, integrity, and teamwork.

• Players recall his unwavering belief in their potential, even when they doubted themselves.

• Parents and colleagues describe him as a steady leader, generous with his time, never hesitating to support athletes on and off the field

A GoFundMe tribute by past players and parents highlights how “Digger gives EVERYTHING to help make kids better on-and-off the soccer field”

❤️ Impact on Gretna & Beyond

Digger’s influence reverberated far beyond wins and championships:

• His drive for holistic athlete development contributed to career paths for many who earned college scholarships in the region .

• He coached at Gretna Soccer Summer Camp, Premier Footwork Academy, Striker Camp, and more—shaping generations of young talent.

• His advocacy for balanced youth sport participation spoke volumes: “I would never tell a kid to quit the sport—it’s their choice,” he said, encouraging players to maintain healthy variety in athletics.

🌠 The Tragedy & Community Response

News of Digger’s car accident on June 22 shocked the Gretna community:

• Fans, families, and fellow coaches are coming together in grief and remembrance.

• A public memorial service is being organized, with details forthcoming.

• The GoFundMe campaign—“Love for the Hawkins Family”—has quickly raised over $2,700 to support funeral and family expenses in this difficult time linkedin.com+6gofundme.com+6gofundme.com+6ketv.com+3wdsu.com+3legacy.com+3wdsu.com+3ketv.com+3legacy.com+3.

💬 Remembering Digger

Digger Hawkins was more than a coach—he was a mentor, teacher, and steadying presence:

• He taught athletes the power of discipline, respect, and resilience.

• He shaped a positive, uplifting community space where young people learned life lessons alongside soccer skills.

• His impact on youth, peers, and the broader soccer world will echo through the lives he touched.

📣 How You Can Honor His Memory

• Attend the memorial service once details are announced and share personal tributes of how Digger influenced you.

• Support the GoFundMe campaign, which directly aids the Hawkins family in covering sudden expenses bvmsports.com+9gofundme.com+9cdn2.sportngin.com+9.

• Coach or mentor youth athletes with the same dedication and integrity Digger exemplified—carry forward his legacy.

• Donate to Gretna Soccer Club or the Nebraska ODP in his honor, to continue nurturing young players in his spirit.

🕯️ Final Thoughts

David “Digger” Hawkins lived fully—on the field as a champion coach, and in the hearts of all he guided. Though his life was silenced too soon, the lessons he instilled—teamwork, grit, kindness—will continue to shape the Gretna community.

Our deepest condolences go out to the Hawkins family, the soccer community, and all whose lives he profoundly enriched. May his memory inspire future generations to love the game and each other as much as he did.