Vikings Girls Flag Coach of the Week

Coach Mike Ellingson and his wife, Ani, are proud parents of five children: Paris (24), Paisley (19), Rowan (18), Emarie (14), and Brooks (13). Throughout his 23-year teaching career, Coach Ellingson has coached a variety of sports and currently serves as the Head Football Coach at Albany Area Schools. This marks the first season of Girls Flag Football in Albany, and while the program continues to learn and grow each week, the enthusiasm and competitive spirit of the athletes have made the experience extremely rewarding.

As a proud "girl dad" to Wynn (3.5) and Coco (1.5), Coach Trevor Schneeberger is passionate about creating opportunities for female athletes and teaching lessons that extend far beyond the game. One example the athletes talk about often is his "+2 Mentality" — reminding players that mistakes equal growth, and when you're trying something new, mistakes mean you're on the right path to improvement. Coach Schneeberger also constantly talks to the team about being "relentless" — a mindset he believes in so much that he literally wears it on his shirt as a daily reminder. It's become part of the culture he's building: showing up, working hard, pushing through challenges, and continuing to grow.

Head Coach Jesse White, a Buhl, Minnesota native, has spent nearly 20 years coaching youth sports. He began working with his own children in T-ball and Little League before joining Mountain Iron-Buhl (MIB) as the Junior Varsity Softball Coach in 2013. In 2019, he stepped into the role of Head Softball Coach, a position he continues to hold today. White has also served as Head Girls Volleyball Coach at MIB and currently teaches middle school social studies in the district.

As a proud "girl dad," White has always been drawn to coaching female athletes, with a focus on creating meaningful opportunities, building confidence, and providing mentorship. He believes strongly that youth sports help prepare students for challenges beyond high school, both on and off the field.

In 2025, inspired by an NFL commercial during the Super Bowl, White partnered with fellow coach Megan Preiner, a health teacher and assistant softball coach at MIB, along with his daughter and coach Abby White, and School Superintendent Dr. Reggie Engebritson, to launch the school's flag football program. They saw it as an exciting new way to expand opportunities for female athletes and bring a fresh, engaging sport to the school.

The coaching staff has been energized by the team's growth from the first practices through the early part of the season. While the players entered week one with some uncertainty, they have quickly found their stride, starting the season 3–1. With each game, their confidence continues to build, and they are competing with increasing passion, energy, and enthusiasm

As a St. Anthony Village High School graduate, it means a lot to Coach Savannah Gilmore to be back coaching at the school where she was once a student just a few years ago. In her first season coaching girls flag football, Coach Gilmore has been really focused on building strong connections with the team and creating an environment where they can have fun, compete, and grow. Her goal is to help each athlete develop both on and off the field.

Coach Josh Kirk grew up in Tracy, Minnesota, where his passion for football began early at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton. He is currently in his fourth year of teaching and his first year in St. Paul Public Schools, teaching middle school Physical Education and Health. Coach Kirk played both football and basketball at Gustavus Adolphus College, then moved to Anoka while completing his Master's in Sports Management. During this time, he was part of the Anoka football program and learned from a great coaching staff under the leadership of Bo Wasurick. Coach Kirk has coached at the varsity level in football, basketball, track and field, and now girls flag football. Coach Kirk wants to help create opportunities for student-athletes and build a positive, supportive environment where they can grow both on and off the field. He also previously coached and taught at Red Rock Central in Lamberton MN, where I learned from Coach Colby Pack that helped shape my approach to creating strong willed, growth-focused programs. As Coach Kirk builds this program in its first year, he is grateful for his assistant coach, Steve Yang. They are energized about the future and committed to providing the best possible experience for their athletes.

Coach Derrick Washington is a Student Achievement Advisor at Blaine High School and has been coaching tackle football at Blaine for the past two years. As the head coach of the girls flag football team, he helped build the program from the ground up with support from the Minnesota Vikings, their athletic director Shannon Gerrety, his assistant coach Marcus Giles, and other coaches who guided the process. Having played football growing up, Coach Washington wanted to be part of the growth of girls flag football and show young women they can compete and succeed in any sport they choose. Coach Washington's focus is creating a family-like culture where athletes can have fun, grow, and be prepared for any challenge. He wants every player to leave with a sense of belonging and confidence in whatever path they choose. He is proud of how Blaine competed in week one against strong programs like North St. Paul and Tartan, and is excited to continue building and growing with his team.