Bend Football Coaching Team
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.