Vikings Girls Flag Coach of the Week

Coach of the Year Nick Sullivan is a 16-year deputy in his first year as the School Resource Officer for Mahtomedi School District. He played football for Tartan High School and coached there for two years before taking a break from football. When his son started 1st grade, he started coaching his flag team and has been coaching ever since. He is also the director of football operations for the Woodbury Athletic Association. Creating a positive atmosphere for youth football is Coach Sullivan's primary goal, as with positivity comes success. When this opportunity was presented to him by Mahtomedi's Activities Director, he jumped at the chance to coach. It was very clear when Coach Sullivan came into the school district that Mahtomedi's female athletes are at an elite level. He knew they would be successful on the field. Coach Sullivan is thankful to have Coach Bob Merthan and Coach Shley Putney on this new flag journey with him. "There is no coach of the week without a great staff and phenomenal players," said Sullivan.

Coach Kimber Scott has been a part of the Two Rivers community for five years as an Administrative Assistant, which her students affectionately call the Office Lady! Coach Scott really enjoys building connections with students, staff, and parents by being the friendly face everyone sees when they arrive. Coach Scott loves getting involved in all sorts of activities—whether it's volunteering at school events, chaperoning dances, helping out on field trips, or supporting Student Council in organizing events like Two Rivers' first-ever Powder Puff game this year. Before coaching Girls' Flag Football, she coached 10th-grade boys' basketball at Two Rivers for four years. When the chance to coach flag football came up this year, Coach Scott was excited to try something new and support the talented girls in playing a sport she really enjoys. Though Coach Scott comes from a basketball background as a player and coach, she is really happy to be expanding her experience and now coaching flag football too!

Coach Bo is in his 26th year of coaching high school football and his first year of coaching girls flag football. This has included stops in Wisconsin, Texas, and Minnesota, with an opportunity to work with some of the most amazing young people throughout the country. He grew up in Green Bay, where his experience working at Packer games as a child sparked his extreme passion for the sport of football. Seeing the excitement, disappointment, love, and pain that the sport can bring sparked a lifelong passion for the greatest game ever created. Coach Bo went on to graduate with a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Minnesota. While at Minnesota, Coach Bo also played tight end for the Golden Gophers for five seasons.

Coach Bo started his coaching career in Wisconsin and Minnesota with stops at Seymour High School, Notre Dame Academy, and Chisago Lakes. After five years coaching in Wisconsin and Minnesota, he moved to Flower Mound, TX, to coach Texas High School Football, where he spent 8 years. After a stop in East Texas, he moved back to Minnesota at Jordan High School, serving as Head Football Coach, Assistant Athletic Director, and Recreation/Facilities Coordinator.

Coach Bo is now entering his seventh season at Anoka High School, leading the Tornadoes football program and working as a business education teacher. Coach Bo has been married to his wife Erin for 21 years. They have two sons, Payton Jackson "PJ" (20) and Tyson Walker "Ty" (17), and two daughters, London Chandler (14) and Grayson Harper (10). The Wasuricks live in Ramsey and are excited to make a long-term home for their family in the Anoka Community.

Assistant coach Trey Delamarter has been with Coach Bo at Jordan and Anoka over the past nine years and is a vital part of the boys' football program, girls' basketball program, and girls' flag football program. Coach Tony Bizal, who is the boys' freshman head football coach, and Coach PJ Wasurick also round out the flag football coaching staff, doing an amazing job helping build the sport in Anoka.

Coach Scott Leonard has served as the Head Girls' Lacrosse Coach at Park for 19 seasons and as an Assistant Girls' Soccer Coach for a similar duration. After attending a day dedicated to the growth of girls flag football at Vikings Training Camp, Coach Leonard recognized the importance of establishing girls' flag football at Park High School. He would like to extend his sincere appreciation to his assistants—Tim Walton, Nick Brinkman, and Dane Clark—all dedicated coaches and fathers of female athletes, for their invaluable contributions to launching our program.

Starting out coaching Girls Flag football in 2023 At Ella Baker in Minneapolis, Coach Nathen Jackson is excited to transition into high school at Roseville! Coach Jackson's passion is teaching young student athletes everyday skills in the building and out on the turf! As a student success supervisor in the building, it allows him to connect with families and students on a day-to-day basis to grow the program at Roseville, as this is their first year! "My amazing coaching staff is a huge part of our success thus far," said Jackson. "We hope this continues and can't wait to the see what's in store for the future of these girls! Go Raiders!"

In addition to coaching Girl's Flag Football, Coach Nick Shriver is also the Varsity Head Football Coach and a high school English teacher, wrapping up his 2nd year at Big Lake High School. Prior to Big Lake, Coach Shriver spent 5 years coaching and teaching at Little Wound School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He is a Twin Cities native, graduating from DeLaSalle High School in 2014 and Macalester College in 2018. He absolutely loves coaching and wouldn't be able to do it without the support of his amazing wife, Lela. Coach Shriver also wants to give a HUGE shoutout to all of Big Lake's amazing assistant coaches: Coach Katie Nelson, Coach Ra'Sheed Jackson, Coach Morgan Penner, and Coach Trevor Penner. "We get the privilege of coaching an incredible group of 45 young women who have dedicated their time, effort, and energy into the game of flag football," said Shriver. "The support from our Big Lake community has been amazing, and we hope to see this game continue to grow in Big Lake and around the country!"

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.

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!

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!

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!