Coaches

The Braves will be led by 2024 NHSCA National Coach of the Year Jeff Thompson.  The Braves have one of the most experienced coaching staffs in the state.  Coach Thompson has won eight boys state championships and has had four national ranked teams at the Flathead Wrestling helm.

The Flathead girls, led by Coach Amber Downing brought home another team trophy last year.  The Flathead girls have taken 2nd in 2025, 3rd place in 2023, 2024, after winning the first two Montana State Championships. 

JEFF THOMPSON

Coach Thompson has led the Braves to a 3rd place trophy in 2003 and a runner-up finishes in 2005, 2020, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The Braves have won state championships in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2022   The Braves wrestling staff is looking to continue the winning tradition for the 2026 season with adding more hardware to the trophy case. Most of these wrestlers have been training since last year’s state tournament.  These wrestlers just love to work out and push to get better.  It’s a wrestling culture here at Flathead.” states Coach Thompson. Jeff Thompson, a former 3x state champion for Great Falls High School (Class of 1991) and high school All-American, wrestled at the University of Minnesota where he was an All-Big Ten Conference wrestler and a member of the 1994 #1 ranked dual meet team in the country.  Thompson previously was the co-head coach at Pacific Lutheran University. Thompson was the 2024 NHSCA National Coach of the Year and is member of the Montana Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was also the Regional National Coach of the year in 2008 and 2004.  Coach Thompson enjoys biking and hiking in his free time.  Coach Thompson was also an Ironman Finisher in 2016 and is a Business Teacher at Flathead High School.  He is married to Dr. Carrie Thompson, a Genetics Director at Logan Health Center.

AMBER DOWNING

This is Coach Downing's 7th year coaching the Girls Flathead wrestling team.  She has won 2X MCA Coach of the Year awards to go along with a 3rd place trophy in 2023, 2024, and a 2nd place trophy in 2025. She grew up wrestling Freestyle and Greco in East Helena and was a manager/atheltic trainer for the Helena High School wrestling team while in high school.  Since getting back on the mats as a coach in 2013 she has led several dual teams for Montana Elite and Team Montana at a variety of Regional and National level tournaments.  Downing has worked as Coordinator of the Montana Intensive Wrestling Camp since 2014, during which time the event has grown to become one of the largest wrestling camps in the country.  Downing is also an MHSA Wrestling Board Member and part of the coaching staff for the Montana Junior National Team.

TUCKER NADEAU

Coach Tucker Nadeau is an English teacher at Flathead High School starting in the fall of 2024.  Tucker was an undefeated state champion for the Braves.  Tucker wrestled for four years at the University of West Virginia where he competed in the Big 12 Championships.  Tucker was an Academic All-Big 12 four years in a row.  Tucker has been a coach at the Montana Intensive Wrestling Camp for 7 years and is an amazing asset to the Braves.  

SHONN ROBERTS

Coach Roberts was a 3X State Champion for Columbia Falls High School and an All-American at the University of Providence. Coach Roberts is an elite technician and a great asset to our program.

MARC NADEAU

Coach Nadeau has been a long time coach for the Braves.  Coach Nadeau wrestled for his dad at Oshkosh West High School in Wisconsin.  After graduating from high school, Coach Nadeau then went into US Army Special Forces for four years.  Coach Nadeau graduated from the University of Colorado, where he became a wrestling coach at Fairview High School in Boulder.  Coach Nadeau was also an Assistant Wrestling Coach/Teacher at Columbia Falls High School for seven years before coming to Flathead.  Coach Nadeau coached the Bigfork Wrestling Club for 10 years.  Coach Nadeau is an English teacher at the VoAg. Center for the school district. 

SAM STOLL

Coach Stoll was an NCAA All-American for the University of Iowa.  Coach Stoll was also a Junior World Bronze Medalist along with being a 2X Fargo Junior National Champion to go along with two Minnesota High School State Titles.  He also pinned his last 63 opponents in high school.

SULLY SULLIVAN

Coach Sullivan will be coaching both the girls and the boys this wrestling season. Coach Sully is a year around coach for the program and gives his heart and soul to these wrestlers.  He is a former University of Montana wrestler, and Whitefish Assistant Coach from 1998-2016.

LOGAN NELSON

Coach Nelson was a 2X NCAA II Qualifier for Simon Frasier and an All-Conference Wrestler.  He was also an assistant coach for Simon Frasier. Coach Nelson was a Washington state finalist in high school. 

CHRIS HUNT

Coach Hunt is in his 3rd year at Flathead.  Coach Hunt wrestled at Northern State in College and was 111-17 in high school in Arizona.  Coach Hunt was 3rd in state his senior year. He is a fantastic clinician and is not afraid to get on the mat with our wrestlers.

KELLY QUINN

Coach Quinn is in his 1st year back with the Brave Brawlers.  Coach Quinn helped the Braves win two state titles in the past and is excited to get back to work for the Braves.

TANNER BEAMAN

Coach Beaman is in his 1st year with the Brave Brawlers.  Coach Beaman was a 2X State Finalist and a State Champion for the Braves.  Beaman was on the 2008 Top 10 Nationally Ranked Team.