Lincoln Christian football coach ready for final season as wife battles terminal cancer

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Kurt and Da’Nelle Earl weren’t expecting this time together.

“We’re committed to being married before the Lord, until death do us part,” Kurt said. “Death is being held off right now despite the fact that we thought we might have already reached it by now.”

Da’Nelle Earl is battling terminal brain cancer called glioblastoma. It normally claims a patient’s life within 24 months. Da’Nelle has been in partial remission for almost two years now.

However, it’s still a battle. For this reason, Kurt Earl has decided to step down as the head coach of Lincoln Christian’s football team after this season.

“I’ve just reached a threshold where it’s time to focus on the two of us, for as long as we get here,” Kurt told Channel 8.

The couple is now preparing for their final Spirit Sword game on Friday night against Lincoln Lutheran.

It’s a game that has meant a lot to the Earls.

Two years ago, both schools sold T-Shirts ahead of the annual rivalry game with the sales going to the Earls. Da’Nelle was also honored after the Crusaders won the matchup.

“It’s overwhelming,” Da’Nelle told Channel 8. “The fact that so many people from our community and their (Lincoln Lutheran) community did something we weren’t expecting. Kurt’s players told us the week of. It just feels like I don’t deserve this kind of support.”

Lincoln Christian and Lincoln Lutheran kickoff on Friday at 7 p.m. at Aldrich Field in Lincoln.

It will be the beginning of the end for Kurt’s long career at Lincoln Christian, which spans more than two decades.

“It’s the end of something we’ve loved together, but it’s also the beginning of something,” Da’Nelle said.

Da’Nelle still suffers from seizures with her condition, even though she is in partial remission.

Kurt said in a text message this week she had a focal seizure on Tuesday, but is recovering well.

He said it’s a reminder that her battle continues.