Vikings Girls Flag Coach of the Week

Allie Happel is the head coach of the Eden Prairie High School girls flag football team, a competitive flag player, and a lifelong football fan. Her love for the game started at a young age, as she grew up watching Packer games with family and playing catch in the yard with her older brothers. Growing up, opportunities for girls to play football were limited, so she jumped at every chance she could get, including playing Powderpuff football in high school. She never imagined that one day I'd have the opportunity to coach girls football at the varsity level. In addition to coaching, Coach Happel is also an active competitive flag football player and quarterback. For more than three years, she has competed in local adult leagues in Minneapolis and traveled across the country to play in women's 7v7 flag football tournaments. Her experience as a player helps shape her coaching philosophy and keeps her connected to the evolving game. For Coach Happel, coaching girls flag football is about creating opportunities she wishes existed when she was a student. She would have LOVED to play high school flag football, and is so grateful to the Minnesota Vikings for their support of girls flag football and for making this a reality for so many young girls across the state. Being named Vikings Girls Flag Football Coach of the Week is an incredible honor, but the greatest reward is helping my players grow their confidence, compete at a high level, and fall in love with the game of football. Coach Happel also wants to shout out her assistant coaches, Lindsey Lee and Anne Olson, whose dedication and partnership have been instrumental to the team's success. "I couldn't have done any of this without them!"

Coach Ross is a Physical Education and Health teacher at St. Louis Park High School and head coach of the SLP Girls Flag Football program. A former Minnesota Vixen player and current tight ends coach, she is passionate about using football to help young women build confidence, leadership, and resilience. Now in her second season leading the Orioles, she is proud of the growth, determination, and strong, supportive team culture her athletes continue to build together. She is also grateful to work alongside an outstanding all-female coaching staff and would like to recognize assistant varsity coaches Emily Sampson, Chloe Anderson, and Camille Evans for their dedication to the program.

"It has been an honor and privilege to coach this program. This experience has been deeply fulfilling as I've watched young women grow in confidence, character, and leadership while building something meaningful together as a team."

Coach Mark Heiser is in his second season leading the Camden girls' flag football program. Coach Heiser has been a social studies teacher at Camden High School for the past 13 years and also served as the Head Boys' Varsity Football Coach for the past 15 seasons. Alongside assistant coaches Rob Neumann and Ray Sheaffer, Heiser helped launch and grow the girls' flag football program at Camden, building a positive, competitive, and supportive environment for student athletes. This season Camden finished the regular season 7-1.

Reflecting on the experience, Heiser shared that working with these athletes has been one of the most rewarding parts of his coaching career. "It has been an absolute joy to work with the young ladies in our program. Watching them grow, improve, and compete every day has been truly incredible. I especially enjoy the energy and passion they bring to practice and games. Thank you to the Vikings for making flag football possible for the girls in our community. It has truly made a positive impact."

Coach Donny Holcomb has been a physical educator and coach for his entire career since 1999. He loves the opportunity to work with kids and help them learn about themselves. He has served Rochester Public Schools and Mayo High School for 26 years coaching tackle football, track, and girls flag football.  Along with Coach Kaleigh Zollner, Coach Holcomb has enjoyed the opportunity to start the program last year and come back with experience this year. It has especially been a gift to have Coach Kaleigh as Mayo's first female football coach and the lessons she has taught him in coaching girls. Coaches Holcomb and Zollner are very thankful for the support from the Vikings and experiences the girls are getting within the sport. They have been on both sides of the win/loss column in the past two years, but regardless, the lessons remain the same to teach within any sport and apply for a lifetime.

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.