GRETNA, NE — The Nebraska soccer community is in mourning after the sudden and tragic death of David “Digger” Hawkins, the charismatic and inspirational coach who led Gretna High School to its first-ever state soccer championship. Hawkins, 44, died early Sunday morning in a one-car crash east of Council Bluffs while being pursued by a sheriff’s deputy.
According to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred around 3:15 a.m. on Iowa Highway 92. Deputies said Hawkins, driving a 2021 Mercedes sedan, began drifting over the center line, prompting a traffic stop attempt. The short pursuit ended moments later when his vehicle veered off the road and into a ditch. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
News of Hawkins’ death has sent shockwaves through the Omaha and Gretna soccer communities, where he was more than just a coach—he was a builder of dreams.
Originally from Portsmouth, England, Hawkins moved to Nebraska and quickly became a respected pillar of youth and high school soccer. He coached with infectious passion, sharp tactical insight, and a gift for connecting with his players on a deeply personal level.
Hawkins served as director of coaching at Gretna Soccer Club, mentored young athletes through the Olympic Development Program, and left his mark at the collegiate level as an assistant coach for Creighton University’s women’s soccer team. But his legacy crystallized in 2021 when he led the Gretna High girls’ team to a Class A state title—the school’s first championship in any sport.
“He made magic on and off the field,” said Alicia Gjovig, his longtime assistant coach. “The moment he entered a room, he changed it. He gave the girls not just skills, but belief.”
Former colleague and friend Joe Rauth recalled how Hawkins brought him out of retirement during his recovery from cancer. “He gave me a new life,” Rauth said. “Coaching with him was like rediscovering purpose.”
Hawkins’ influence extended far beyond his teams’ win-loss records. He was known to memorize hundreds of camper names each summer and make time for every kid who picked up a ball. “He cared more about his players than he ever did himself,” Gjovig added.
In a community now struggling with the void left behind, tributes are pouring in from players, parents, and fellow coaches who describe Hawkins as irreplaceable.
“No one will be able to fill his shoes,” Gjovig said. “What we built here—our standard, our family—it was all rooted in him.”
Funeral details and a public memorial are expected to be announced this week.
Hawkins is survived by the thousands of lives he touched, the young people he mentored, and a legacy that will live on each time a Gretna girl steps onto a soccer field with fire in her heart.
A memorial fund in honor of David “Digger” Hawkins will be established by Gretna Soccer Club in the coming days.
