Alma Mater(s): Caledonia High School (MN), University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, University of South Dakota
This is Mark Esch’s 5th year as a Minnetonka Football coach and his 3rd as Head Coach. Mark is a graduate of Caledonia High School and played one year of college football at UW-La Crosse. He began his coaching career at UW-La Crosse and then coached
for a year at White Bear Lake High School. Mark’s college coaching career began at the University of South Dakota, where he spent
one season before getting back into teaching and coaching at Austin High School. Mark was the head coach at Mankato West High School from 2006-16 where he led his team to 9 state appearances in 11 seasons while winning two state championships.
Mark is a PE teacher at MHS and lives in Victoria with his wife Sarah and their three daughters.
Mark.Esch@MinnetonkaSchools.org
Offensive Line
Alma Mater(s): Minnetonka High School ('10); University of Minnesota ('15)
Jon Christenson is in his forth season of coaching at Minnetonka, however, he is no stranger to the program. Coach Christenson played football for the Skippers (07’-10’) on the offensive and defensive line. He believes there are few things that shape a young person for success like high school football, and he knows that his time at Minnetonka was profoundly formative. Jon went on to play for the University of Minnesota Gophers, where he started on the interior offensive line for four years, accumulated numerous awards, and was named a captain his senior year (15’). Jon is excited about the opportunity to serve his community and continue the Skipper legacy.
He is currently an associate pastor at Grace Church in Eden Prairie. He and his wife Erika have one daughter, Evangeline, and a son, Titus. They reside in Minnetonka.
Email: Jon.Christenson63@Gmail.com
Running Backs
Alma Mater(s): Mayer Lutheran High School; Gustavus Adolphus College
Bryan Dammann enters his twenty first season at Minnetonka. Coach Dammann serves as the sophomore head coach this season. Bryan has coached previously at Brooklyn Center High School serving as an assistant for two years and as head coach for three years. He was also a junior high coach in St. Clair, Minnesota for two years. Bryan is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and is a math teacher at Minnetonka High School. Bryan and his wife Echo have four children; Isaiah, Evelyn, Ariel and Duke. They currently reside in Minneapolis.
Cornerbacks
Alma Mater(s): Marshfield HS (Wis.), North Dakota State (B.S.), St Mary’s (M.A.)
Matt Gorman enters his forth year at Minnetonka High School teaching Special Education and coaching Cornerbacks. Coach Gorman was a four year starter and all-conference selection at NDSU. He has been teaching and coaching for 15 years in Bloomington, St. Anthony and Minnetonka.
Matt and his wife Ashley have three children; Brynn, Tyler and Maya. They reside in Eden Prairie.
Email: Mathew.Gorman@MinnetonkaSchools.org
Inside Linebackers Coach
Alma Mater(s): Minnetonka High School ('09); Winona State University
Coach Karon was a running back and linebacker for the Skippers before graduating from Minnetonka in 2009. He continued his education and football career at Winona State University, graduating with a degree in Physical Education. Ismail will be coaching the inside linebackers for the varsity team. Karon teaches Physical Education at Minnetonka High School.
Email: Ismail.Karon@MinnetonkaSchools.org
Defensive Line Coach
Alma Mater(s): Blaine High School, (B.S) South Dakota State University, (M.S.) St. Cloud State University, (EdS.) Concordia St. Paul
Josh Stephan will be entering his 16th season as an Assistant Coach for the Skippers. Stephan is a graduate of Blaine High School where he competed in two state titles under hall of fame coach Dave Nelson. Stephan is a three-time letter winner at defensive tackle for South Dakota State and has previous coaching stops at St. Cloud State, South Dakota State, and Chaska High School.
Josh and wife Sarah are both teachers in the Minnetonka Schools and are proud parents of four growing Skippers- Caroline, Henry, Mae, and George.
Wide Receivers Coach
Alma Mater(s): Buffalo High School, Gustavus Adolphus College
Coach Opsal enters his 11th year on the staff and is in charge of varsity receivers. Prior to joining Minnetonka, Opsal spent five seasons at Thousand Oaks High School (California) and three seasons coaching college football at Pacific Lutheran (Washington), California Lutheran and Gustavus Adolphus. He is a 2004 graduate of Gustavus and a 1999 graduate of Buffalo High School. Along with his coaching duties, Opsal serves as a Physical Education teacher at Minnetonka High School.
Coach Opsal and his wife, Molly, reside in Minnetonka.
Safeties
Alma Mater(s): Alcovy High School (GA), Point University (GA)
Rod is returning for his fourth year at Minnetonka high school as a volunteer coach. Rod is the founder of TEAM Health Sports, a mentorship program for student athletes. Prior to Rod moving to Minnesota from Georgia, he coached at a Division 2 HBCU by the name of Fort Valley State University. Rod coached the defensive backs and was also the Player Development coach on staff.
Rod graduated from Point University, where he was a part of the inaugural football team in 2011. Rod played football for 3 years at Point University.
Running Backs Coach
Alma Mater(s): Lely HS (FL.), South Dakota State (B.S.),
Rodney Francois enters his 8th year coaching; his first year at Minnetonka High School. Rodney was a four year letter winner, two year starter, and all-conference selection at SDSU.
Rodney and his wife Nikki reside in Excelsior with their two children; Caleb and Nolan.
Alma Mater(s): Agua Fria High School (AZ), University of Southern California
Everson Griffen enters his first year on the Skippers coaching staff working with the defensive line.
Everson attended Agua Fria High School where he played as a defensive lineman, running back and was a track & field standout.
After high school, Everson attended USC and played for 3 seasons before entering the 2010 NFL Draft where he was selected by the Vikings. His NFL career included 11 seasons with Minnesota and one season each with Dallas and Detroit.
Everson and his wife Tiffany have 3 children and reside in Minnetrista.
Defensive Assistant Coach
Alma Mater(s): Mountlake Terrace HS (WA), Saint John’s University
Ryan LaCasse enters his 2nd year at Minnetonka High School as a volunteer
coach. As a player for Saint John’s, he was a 3-year starter and all-conference
selection at Safety. Coach LaCasse will be assisting with the Defensive Backs,
and Co-Defensive Coordinator for the Junior Varsity team. Along with coaching,
LaCasse works in Operations for Globaltranz Logistics.
Assistant Offensive Line/Tight Ends
Alma Mater(s): Minnetonka High School
(Class of 2022)
Bubba Moore is a 2nd year graduate assistant coach, assisting Coach Christenson with the offensive line. Bubba played Tonka Youth Football and Varsity Football for the Skippers. His future plans include pursuing an occupational therapy degree, working with adaptive sports athletes and continuing to be a part of the Minnetonka Football Program.
Assistant Coach - Wide Receivers.
Alma Mater(s): Mankato West High School, Bethel University
Jon enters his 2nd season working with varsity wide receivers. A Mankato native, Jon played on Coach Esch’s 2014 state championship team as a receiver. He went on to play football at Bethel. Jon is currently self-employed and recently engaged.
Assistant Coach: QBs / Kickers & Punters
Alma Mater(s): Andover High School, Southwest Minnesota State University
Connor Wilkie enters his 4th year of coaching and his first year at with the Skippers.
Prior to MHS, Connor spent two seasons as the running backs coach at Augsburg University and one season as the varsity quarterbacks coach at Coon Rapids High School.
He graduated from Andover High School (‘14) and went on to play quarterback at Southwest Minnesota State University and was named captain his senior year (’18).
Along with his coaching responsibilities, Connor serves as a Special Education teacher at MHS and has been happily married to his wife Karlie since 2021.
Strength Coach, Taylor Moon
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Alma Mater(s): Winona State University, Concordia University-St. Paul
Coach Taylor Moon will be entering his 5th season as Minnetonka's Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. Coach Moon is also a Special Education Developmental Disabilities Teacher at Minnetonka High School.
Before arriving at Minnetonka High School, Coach Moon worked as an Assistant Coach and then Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at East Ridge High School (Woodbury, MN). Coach Moon oversaw football, boys basketball, boys lacrosse, boys soccer, baseball, and cheer while working as a special education resource teacher.
Moon graduated from Winona State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education Learning Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities with minors in Coaching and Child Advocacy Studies. During his time at Winona State, Moon interned for 2 years with the strength & conditioning staff working with both men's and women's sports competing in the NSIC Conference. Four of his collegiate years, Moon spent time as the Head Coach of Winona State Men’s Club Hockey team in the ACHA, leading the team to a school-record 19 wins, and a national ranking of #22.
Continuing his education, Moon has completed a Master’s Degree in Special Education-Emotional Behavior Disorders from Concordia University St. Paul.
In his free time, Moon enjoys lifting heavy weights, promoting inclusive opportunities, reading science fiction books, eating, camping, and traveling.