Aaron Mager Named As New Head Girls Basketball Coach
ADM is excited to announce that Aaron Mager has accepted the position of Head Girls Coach at ADM pending approval by the ADM School Board.
Coach Mager is a familiar face to ADM and a proven leader whose head coaching experience and background have led to success. Coach Mager served as the ADM Head Boys' Basketball Coach from 2005 to 2021 and most recently served as an assistant boys' basketball coach at Waukee Northwest for the past five years. Coach Mager stepped away from ADM for a few years in order to assist one of his dearest friends/former assistants at the launch of a new 4A high school. In his time away, he had the opportunity to learn additional aspects and methodologies of coaching the game and building top tier team culture. During that time of growth, it reinforced his drive to get back into a head coaching role. He is thrilled to take over the girls' program on the strong foundation left by Coach Craig and her staff.
During his 30 years as a coach, Coach Mager has been part of 6 teams that have qualified for the state tournament, including 2 as the head coach at ADM. He has been fortunate enough to experience two State Runner Up finishes in 2023 and 2025, a 3rd place finish here at ADM in 2008, and three State Quarterfinal appearances in 2012, 2022, and 2026. Coach Mager has been part of 6 conference championships and was named Raccoon River Conference Coach of the Year three times in 2008, 2009, and 2019. Coach Mager is known for his ability to develop players in his program, his outstanding basketball knowledge that includes teams perennially efficient on offense and relentless on defense. Coach Mager is a coach whose programs have thrived on outstanding cultures marked by positive relationships, integrity, and high expectations.
Coach Mager and his wife, Heather, have two children - Caden (24) and Camryn (20), both graduates of ADM, and they have lived here in Adel since 2012. He graduated from Central College with a Degree in Biological Sciences & Education in 1996 and then earned his Masters of Science in School Counseling from Drake University in 2007. He began his coaching career at MFL MarMac Community Schools (1996-97) and Earlham Community Schools (1997-2005). Aaron was then hired by ADM Schools in 2005, where he has been a middle school counselor for the past 19 years.
When asked about his new position at ADM, Coach Mager stated, "I am beyond grateful and extremely excited for the opportunity to lead the ADM Tiger Girls Basketball Program. Getting to be a part of ADM athletics for a second stint is truly an honor, and I do not take that lightly. I was drawn back into the fold by the strong foundation of fundamentals and culture that the girls and staff have built over the past few seasons. The energy and togetherness that they exhibited as I watched their games from this past season has me SO excited. I am ready for us to collectively build towards some high goals that the girls and I were able to discuss during the interview process. This is a hungry, driven group, and I could not be more excited for the opportunity to help these girls get where they want to go!"
"We are so excited to have Coach Mager back on our coaching staff and to be the next leader of our girls' basketball program at ADM. Coach Mager is a culture-driven coach who drives student-leadership and matches that with his tremendous basketball knowledge and experience. Coach Mager is passionate about the success of students at ADM and the sport of basketball. He will no doubt bring that passion to the girls basketball program.coach and will develop the players in the program to achieve high results," said ADM Activities Director, Rod Wiebers. "Coach Mager will continue to raise the standard in the girls' basketball program due to his student-athlete-centered approach and vast experience. We are excited to have Coach Mager be the next leader of the girls' basketball program."
