2019-2020 varsity and Junior varsity teams
varsity level Coaches
Phil Johnsrud-Varsity Coach
Following his graduation from Moorhead State University in 1991, Phil has been involved with Minnewaska Area basketball since 1992 as a junior high coach. His experience has ranged from coaching youth basketball to junior high to ninth grade and head coach for 15 seasons from 1997-98 through 2011-12. Coach Johnsrud returned as head coach of the Lakers in the fall of 2016 after serving as a junior high and junior varsity coach in 2013-15 and is beginning his 18th year as the Laker head coach. Coach Johnsrud has also been an assistant varsity football coach, junior high baseball coach, and is currently an 8th grade football coach for the Minnewaska Lakers. Graduating from Starbuck in 1986, Johnsrud participated in football, basketball, and baseball. He was a football captain on the third straight football team to reach the state tournament. Johnsrud was a captain and all-conference player in basketball. During his three seasons on the varsity the team finished in either second or third place in the district. The 1985 baseball team fell one win short of the state tournament. Some highlights as head coach of the Lakers include reaching the state tournament in 2001 and 2018. His teams won five West Central Conference championships including four straight from 1999 through 2002. Johnsrud was named Section Coach of the Year on three occasions, 2001, 2011, and 2018. In 2018 Coach Johnsrud was named the KMGK Male Coach of the Year and in 2001 was honored as the Minnesota ARC Teacher of the Year for his work with persons having developmental disabilities. |
Darin Johnson-Assistant Varsity Coach
Darin has an impressive coaching background. Darin Johnson was an assistant basketball coach at Monticello High School during the Joel Przybilla era. He spent a combined five years assisting at Bemidji State, St. Cloud State, and Dakota State University. Darin was the head basketball coach at Riverland Community College for three seasons. Since 2006 he has had various roles in Minnewaska’s boys and girls basketball programs either as a coach or as a scout. He is happy that his employment as a realtor for Glenwood State Bank Real Estate allows him the flexibility to have an active role as a coach again this year. Darin is a 1990 graduate of Glenwood High School. He was a captain and all-conference player in both basketball and baseball. His undergraduate and graduate work was at St. Cloud State University. |
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Jesse Johnson-Junior Varsity Coach
Jesse and his five brothers (all first names beginning with “J”) grew up in rural Minnesota in Stanchfield. His K-12 schooling was at Braham; graduating in 2010. He played football, basketball, and baseball for the Bombers. Jesse was a football,basketball, and baseball captain during his time at Braham. Johnson also lead the conference in steals his senior year. Jesse was an all-conference basketball player as a junior and senior. During each of his four seasons on the varsity, Braham and their legendary coach Bob Vaughan participated in the state tournament. Johnson attended St. John’s University where he majored in mathematics and minored in secondary education. Johnson to this day, still holds the record for most intramural championships won at Saint John's. Johnson played amateur baseball in college and continues doing so to this day. He is in his fourth year as a teacher at Minnewaska Area High School. Jesse has coached many levels of youth basketball players ranging from pre-kindergarten to his current assignment as Junior Varsity coach. Ted Hill-9th Grade Coach
Graduating High School from Glenwood, in 1978, Coach Hill participated and earned letters in football, cross country, basketball, track, and baseball. He captained the cross country and track teams during his years in high school and earned all-conference honors in both sports in his sophomore, junior, and senior years. Coach Hill received his undergraduate degree in 1982 from the University of Minnesota-Morris where he participated in soccer, basketball, and track. He has been a head coach in multiple schools and sports including; volleyball, basketball, softball, track, golf, and soccer. He has been honored as Section Coach of the Year for soccer seven times in his career. His coaching career stretches 36 year with 31 years in basketball. He has served an assistant under every head basketball coach in Minnewaska High school history. Beginning with Greg Starns in the fall of 1991 as a ninth grade coach, then serving under Phil Johnsrud and Todd Beecher as a junior varsity coach. |