Vikings Girls Flag Coach of the Week
After each week of games during the high school girls flag football season, the Vikings honor a coach of the week. Coaches are chosen based on their contribution on the football field, but more importantly, on the impact they make within their community and for their student-athletes. In addition to being recognized in local media for the achievement, the school's girls flag football program receives a $1,000 donation on behalf of the Minnesota Vikings.
2025 Girls Flag Coach of the Week Winners
Week 2: Jon Bakken - Waterville-Elysian-Morristown
Jon Bakken, a Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame recipient in 2013, is an advocate and coach for female flag football in Waterville, Minnesota. With a deep commitment to all youth sports and community engagement, Jon has played a key role in promoting this opportunity for girls to participate in flag football. Known for creating a supportive and empowering environment, Jon's leadership has helped grow this new sport locally and inspire female athletes to develop their skills, teamwork, and confidence on and off the field.
Week 2: Brandon Carl - Eagan
While taking the new head coach role for Eagan Girls Flag Football, Coach Brandon Carl is involved in many roles at Eagan High School, including a special education teacher, assistant varsity offensive line coach, and assistant weightlifting coach (Eagan Trained). As an Eagan High School graduate (Class of 2015), a former collegiate football player at UW–Eau Claire, and a holder of a master's degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University–St. Paul, Coach Carl is honored to give back to the community that shaped him. The Eagan Girls Flag Football program is deeply committed to creating a positive, inclusive, and empowering environment for student-athletes. The coaching staff strives to support students' growth both on and off the field. Coach Carl is thankful for the coaches and the student managers that support Eagan athletes daily. The launch of girls flag football at Eagan has been a proud milestone, highlighted by the team's hard work, resilience, and sportsmanship. Our first season has already created lasting memories, and the Eagan team is excited for what lies ahead. Go Wildcats!
Week 1: Ryan Galindo - Minneapolis Washburn
Coach Galindo is a 1999 Washburn High School Graduate, who has a ton of pride and passion for the Washburn School Community. The students and student-athletes are his "WHY" each day. This last fall completed his 10th season as the Washburn High School Football Head Coach, but he began coaching football at Washburn in 2004. This is Washburn's and Coach Galindo's first season doing anything with Girls Flag Football, and it has been an awesome experience thus far. He is excited to see the future of flag football across Minneapolis, the state, and the nation!
Week 1: Matt Solberg - Proctor
Coach Matt Solberg is thrilled to be a part of the girls flag football program and to be coaching the inaugural season at Proctor. Currently, he teaches high school mathematics at Proctor High School. At Proctor, he is also the Head Girls Basketball Coach, High School Math League Coach, and Middle School Math League Coach. In addition, he coaches tackle football at Cloquet High School. When he is not coaching, he referees high school basketball, and umpires high school and college baseball. In his free time he enjoys fishing, primarily muskie fishing, and also enjoys going hiking, camping, or canoeing with his family. Coach Solberg has a wife, Sarah, and two daughters, Mary (4) and Marta (7 months). Proctor had a great first week of games and looks forward to continuing to improve over the course of the season. Go Rails!