Bend High VS Mountain View 11/1/24

Bend high School Football Team Information

Bend High Seniors

Coaches Outlook

What an offseason the Lava Bears had while all the fans were away. There was definitely no hibernating here; between competing in multiple winter and spring sports and having the best attendance rates we have seen in out-of-season lifting and conditioning, the program has readied itself for a great year. The Lava Bears even managed to make some time for fun and community with a Super Bowl commercial, as well as a nine-week flag football league run and coached by our players. How could I forget? The Lava Bears also got it done in the classroom, earning a 3.0 overall program GPA. All in all, the Lava Bears have readied themselves for another year of action in 5A and Intermountain Conference play.

The Lava Bears would first like to thank the high school and the community for their support thus far this season. The Lava Bear family is stronger than ever with the support of parents, administration, and support staff on campus. The job of a coach becomes infinitely easier when the level of “care” is high among many, as it is today for “our” program. A special thanks to the senior parents who have not only raised a terrific group of young men but have continually stepped up to make this program what it is today and will continue to be in the future.

Sticking with the theme of seniors, I would like to once again thank the senior football class of 2023 for their efforts and Total Release attitude. May your paths always lead back to Punk Hunnell on a Friday night. With this said, the 30 seniors in the football class of 2024 look to make the “Long Blue Line” proud in everything they do. They have embraced the TR attitude and STEP UP culture from the jump. Their commitment to our program and school is felt on every level. Whether on the sideline of another sport or the sideline of a lower-level football game, this class has made this school better. In the cloud of construction, this class refuses to believe that this school is ‘falling apart’. For it’s classes like this one that we have built the Lava Bear traditions on, because it has never been about the walls at our school; it has always been about the people within them.

Enough talk about the walls and the past—let’s talk some football. The program will have roughly 50 players on the varsity team this year. Between 30 battle-tested seniors, who return 14 from both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, and a very hungry junior class, the Lava Bears are looking to compete in a very talented IMC this year. Competition has been a major focal point this summer and through fall camp. This group of men has learned how to compete in everything that they do because of the depth we have at each position. Not one Lava Bear looked for dark places to hide and cower but faced competition not only daily but with each rep. This ‘iron sharpens iron’ mentality that we have taken ownership of will pay dividends on Friday nights in the fall. This team’s strengths will come in the form of athletic ability and mental and physical toughness. The Lava Bears will continually be the smaller teams in the state, but this game is, and never will be, played on paper. We take great pride in looking at the height and weight posted on the internet of other teams and often wonder what other programs do when they see our dimensions. Through technique, multiple looks, and most importantly the heart of a champion, the Lava Bears overcome any size discrepancies others might offer as insurmountable odds. The Lava Bears are also able to have fewer two-way starters on the field at any time. We believe that many of our players are in shape for this two- way task but will need rotation throughout the game and season. So, with that being said, we believe in one and a half-way starters. We feel that our program is best when we have fresh legs in the fourth quarter as well as at the end of the season.

The Lava Bears offensively will continue to perfect the blend of a gun offense with the Wing-T philosophies the program adopted five years ago. The offensive line will be the cornerstone of this unit, as it always has been, as long as this program has existed. You will see up to eight players rotating in these five positions throughout the year. We believe in man- blocking techniques because of how athletic our linemen are in space and at the next level. The offensive line will provide openings for multiple backs coming from multiple positions. This is a testament to our ‘Ball Security’ coach Fred Kent, who has taught these ball carriers that it is their duty to secure the ball throughout the play and sometimes throughout the course of the day. You could see up to six backs get a carry because of the depth of these positions. They are athletic and ready for a poised, electric year, but most importantly with a “whatever it takes” team attitude, which is so rare these days in our culture. The offense will even be able to open up this year with four wide receivers at a time on the field. With the help of a quarterback group that is mature and ready to lead, the wideouts are an athletic bunch with great route-running ability.

The Lava Bear offense will be called by our very own Liam Brown, Class of 2010. He has done a great job with our offensive line throughout the years and will continue to do a spectacular job calling the offense.

The defense again will be run, organized, and led by Matt Craven. Coach Craven has embraced the 4-4 scheme over the last 15 years and has once again put together a squad that will be known as one of the best in the state. Last year, with a largely junior squad, the Lava Bears ranked in the top five for points allowed per game. The Lava Bears return 10 starters off that defense. This group is anchored by its front four linemen, which will be asked to stop the run as well as provide a formidable pass rush. The line will stay fresh because we will be able to rotate a new group almost every series. The linebackers, who have continually embraced the ‘Killer B’ mentality, are led by another Long Blue Liner, John Weisner. The group will have six players rotating in those four positions throughout the year and will be playing sideline to sideline with the attacking attitude Coach Weisner has instilled in them. The back end will return all three positions and will be our Air Traffic Controllers, setting coverages and coordinating on the back end. Coach Scott Gilsdorf has joked that these years he can be on autopilot with these high football IQ returners. He will have his work cut out for him, though, this year as the special teams coordinator.

Special teams have never been overlooked by the Lava Bears, and with Coach Gilsdorf at the helm, they will be on lockdown. More yards are transferred during these plays than in any other facet of the game. It has been referenced that special teams, special plays, special players are at a premium at Bend High. These units will be littered with many of these one- and-a-half-way starters, which should make for some exciting plays.

One of the cornerstones of this program is gratitude. To be grateful doesn’t cost a cent but means the world. To be grateful builds community, and that is what being a Lava Bear is all about. Genelle Reese, our Athletic Secretary, is second to none. She will be so upset that I am ‘wasting ink,’ as she will say, but if it were not for Genelle, we would not be able to do what we do. She is the rock that we stand on daily and is always on speed dial for all of our coaches in this program as well as our school. Genelle has cleared, counseled, mentored, and guaranteed transport for everyone who has participated in athletics, including the coaches, for the last 20 years at Bend High. She is a selfless servant leader that I could not imagine being able to do what we do without her.

In summation, after one year as your head coach, I would again like to thank the administration at Bend High for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be the Bend Lava Bear football coach. Under Principal Chris Reese’s tenure at Bend High, he has continued the tradition of employing educators who want to help students in extracurricular programs. We are blessed to have nine men who take a great deal of pride in their paying job as teachers, as well as their passion side gigs as coaches of your young men. These teacher-coaches will be asked on many occasions if they are going to the game this Friday night because the average student doesn’t see them as football coaches. These men take a great deal of pride in this, and it is a direct result of our administration.

It is our hope that what you see on the field tonight and in the community afterward will make you proud to be a part of this family. We’re glad you are here tonight to support us, and we hope to give a great effort this season. TR!!! STEP UP!!! Go Lava Bears!

Coach Cooper

Coaching Team

SCOTT BAKER - Scott is in his 18th year with Bend Football. This year, Coach Baker will be the Co-Head JV coach. He will also assist in coaching JV Quarterbacks and Defensive Line. Scott was an outstanding prep athlete from Crater High School along with being an outstanding basketball player at Willamette University. In 1993, Scott was a part of the national championship basketball team at Willamette. He is also a member of the Willamette University Athletic Hall of Fame. Scott teaches Math at BSH. He and his wife Racheal have a son, Austin and daughter, Abby.

DOUG BROWN - Doug begins his 28th season as a BSH football coach as the Co-Head JV Coach and works with Offensive Line and Linebackers. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History at San Diego State in 1987, and he taught at Sunset High School before coming to Bend. Doug teaches Social Studies at Bend and is married to Diane. They have two sons, Liam and Cameron. Doug earned his master’s degree from Concordia University and spent a semester in China as a teaching diplomat.

KEVIN COOPER - Kevin begins his 18th season in the Lava Bear Football Program, and his 2nd season as the Head Coach. He coaches Varsity Quarterbacks and also serves as the Offensive Coordinator. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and later earned his master’s degree at Chapman University. He teaches Social Studies. Kevin and his wife, Kristin (who is also the Lava Bear Volleyball coach), have three children: Kaden, Kai and Klayton.

MATT CRAVEN - Matt served 11 seasons as the Lava Bear head football coach. He begins his 20th year as a member of the staff. This year, Matt will coach the Defensive Line and coordinate the defense along with Coach Gilsdorf and Coach Weisner. He earned a Mathematics degree at Linfield College and his master’s degree in education at Chapman University. Matt was a First-Team All-State Strong Safety in 1992 for Bend High and was voted Male Athlete of the year in 1997 at Linfield College as a football and track athlete. Matt and his wife, Eris, have a son, Sean and a daughter, Leah.

SCOTT GILSDORF - Scott begins his 19th season on the Lava Bear coaching staff following 7 very successful years at Tigard High. Scott coaches the secondary and will co-coordinate the defense. He is an English teacher at BSH. Scott was a member of Tigard’s staff in 2003 when the school won the OSAA State Championship and helped the school advance to postseason play seven straight years. He was a three-year varsity player at Central Catholic and served as an assistant at the parochial school for 4 years. Scott and his wife Cambria have a daughter, Brooklyn and a son, Broch.

RANDY THOMPSON - A Bend High school grad of 1999, Randy received a Law Enforcement degree from Western Oregon University, and he works as a police Deputy Sheriff in Bend. He helps coach the freshmen offensive line and will be the freshmen defensive coordinator. He is married to Justine, and they have two sons, Cameron and Nathan. Randy has coached at BSH for 18 years.

QUINN CLAIR - Quinn is a 2007 graduate of Bend High School where he led the IMC in rushing his senior year. Quinn helps with the robust social media programs associated with Bend Football. Quinn played baseball at QWESTA JC in San Luis Obispo and graduated from OSU. He is teaching science at Bend High School, and he is married to Katie. Coach Clair is also a Varsity Baseball coach at BSH. He coached football for 11 years, and this year he continues his role as the Lava Bears’ media director. He and Katie have recently welcomed a son, Hayes..

Nate Neil- Nate begins his 10th year with the Lava Bear Football program. He will continue his tenure as Head Coach for the freshmen. He will also be coaching the quarterbacks and defensive backs. Coach Neil went to Corvallis HS (’95) and attended Western Oregon University (’99). He was a TE at WOU. Nate is married to Stacy and has two sons, Liam and Sam.

John Weisner- John is entering his 12th season as a football coach, his 6th for the Lava Bears. John graduated from Bend Senior High School and played college football at Oregon State University. John and his wife, Jodi, have three children: Madilynn, Micajah and Aubree. John is currently the President of Coral Construction Company and was an original founder of Lava Bear Youth Athletics.

LIAM BROWN- Liam begins his 5th season as a Lava Bear football coach. Liam was a 2010 graduate of BSH where he earned All-League honors as an offensive guard. After high school, Liam attended Whitworth University and was an All-League offensive lineman. Liam will be the offensive line coach and teach social studies at BSH. He is married to Marit and lives in Bend. They are raising a daughter, Nell and a son, Orin.

Brody Hadley- Brody will be coaching the freshmen secondary for the Lava Bears. He has coached high school football for 7 years. He is married to Heidi, and has recently earned his Oregon Teaching Credential. Brody attended BSH and graduated in 2013. He was a 3-time track letter winner and a 2-time football letterman as a corner for the Lava Bears.

Kross Knoll- Kross will coach defensive backs and wide receivers in his 2nd year with the Lava Bears. Kross was a 2018 graduate of Cashmere High School in Cashmere, WA. Upon graduation, Kross enrolled at George Fox University where he majored in Business Administration in 2022. Kross is married to Marisa and likes to cook in his spare time. He is currently enrolled in a teaching program to acquire a teaching credential in Oregon.

John Egress- John begins his 7th year with the Lava Bears. John has coached primarily Freshmen Offensive Line in his time with BSH. However, John has over 30 years coaching experience at multiple high schools and junior colleges before his retirement and move to Bend. He enjoys the outdoors with his wife Linda in Bend.

Fernando Calderon- Fernando begins his first year coaching with the Lava Bears as a member of the freshmen staff. He was born in El Salvador and grew up in both Los Angeles and Medina, TN. Fernando graduated from Panorama HS and immediately enlisted in the Marines where he currently serves as a CH/53 (air crewman). Fernando has also coached rugby.

Fred Kent- Coach Fred Kent starts his 7th year at BSH as the outside LB and running backs coach. Fred graduated from Portola HS in California in ’97. Coach Kent attended Lewis and Clark College as a biology major and currently teaches science at Bend HS. He and his wife Melanie have two sons, Fred and Jordan.