Coaching Staff

Tim Carlson - Head Coach

Tim is entering his 30th year of coaching and 8th as Head Coach at Jefferson. Tim has been a teacher in Bloomington for over 25 years and is currently a Social Studies teacher at Jefferson. Tim is a graduate of Jefferson and Bethel University. Tim and his wife Kelly have two boys, Joe (24) and John (21).

 

Matt Smith - Varsity Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach

Matt is entering his 19th year of coaching and 7th as Offensive Coordinator at Jefferson. Matt is a former Special Education teacher and is currently a stay-at-home father. Matt is a graduate of Thomas More High School (Milwaukee, WI) and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Matt and his wife Sue (Jefferson graduate) have three children: daughter Macey (12), son Clayton (9), and daughter Sylvia (7).

 

Kyle Fearing - Varsity Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach

Kyle is Entering his 10th year of coaching and 4th year at Jefferson as the Defensive Coordinator. This year Kyle will be teaching Physical Education/Health at Olson Middle School. Before that he has been at St. Louis Park Middle School in the same role. Kyle is a graduate of Osseo Senior High School and Concordia University St. Paul where he played football. Kyle and his wife (Tiffany) have a son Cooper (8 months).

 

Aaron Swartout - Offensive Line

Aaron has been coaching football for 20 years and is entering his 19th year coaching at Jefferson. This will be his 17th year as Offensive Line coach. Aaron teaches Health and PE at Valley View Middle School in Bloomington. He is a graduate of Jefferson High School and earned his teaching degree at UW - River Falls. Aaron and his wife Kelly have 2 boys, Brady (15) and Logan (12).

 

Nick Zilka - Varsity Defensive Line and Special Teams Coordinator

Nick is entering his 12th year of coaching at Jefferson. Nick coaches both football and basketball at Jefferson. Nick is a graduate of Jefferson and North Dakota State University. Nick and his wife Linsey have a boy and a girl, Lincoln (9) and Kendall (5).

 

Don Verdegan - Varsity Running Backs

Don is currently coaching the RB's for the varsity. In the past he has also coached the 9th and 10th grade teams. Don is entering his 28th year teaching at Jefferson High School where he teaches Engineering, Technology Education and Driver Education. Don and his wife Ann have three children, twin girls Erica & Elise and a son Ethan.

 

Peter Knutson - Varsity Wide Receivers

Peter is in his second year as the varsity wide receiver coach. Pete is a teacher at Normandale Hills Elementary school. He was tight end, wide receiver, and punter at Bethel University. Pete played WR for Jefferson when he was in high school. Pete loves spending time outside, playing sports, and working out. Pete has a passion for youth mentorship, youth sports, and youth development.

 

Brad Ruff - Varsity Defensive Backs

Brad is entering his 37th year of coaching football and 13th at Jefferson. Brad taught and coached at Cretin Derham Hall for 14 years and coached at Holy Angels for 10 years. Brad also coached wrestling for 26 years. Brad currently works as Project Manager for Skyline Displays, in Eagan. Brad is a graduate of Holy Angels and Augsburg College. Brad and his wife Leslie live in Bloomington and have two boys, Nate (32) and Aaron (29).

 

Tommy Leung - Varsity Coach

Tommy is entering his 3rd year coaching at Jefferson. He is a 2015 Jefferson graduate and recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Sport Management B.S. and Coaching minor.  He spent two years with the Golden Gophers as the running back equipment manager.

 

 

Matt Dammann - Head B Coach

Matt Dammann will be coaching his 6th season at Jefferson High School. Matt graduated from Jefferson in 2009 and attended the University of Northwestern St. Paul where he played 4 years of football and received a degree in teaching. Matt will be teaching Special Education for his 5th year in Bloomington this upcoming school year. Matt lives in Bloomington with his wife, Keely, who coaches Volleyball for Jefferson High School.

 

Talisman Squires - B Coach

Talisman "Tally" Squires is entering his 5th year of coaching. 3rd official year at Jefferson High School (left and came). Tally is the Support Specialist and After-School Coordinator at Valley View Elementary School. He graduated from Southwest High School and has a degree in Early Childhood Education. Tally and his Wife Eman have 6 children and live in Bloomington.

 

Craig Siiro – B Coach

Craig has worked with the B teams for the past 4 years.  Craig founded a consulting firm in 2010 that provides financial and business advisory services to entrepreneurial companies.  Craig is proud graduate of Bigfork High School, the University of Minnesota – Duluth and Carlson School of Management.  Craig and his wife Therese have four sons: AJ (28), Ryan (26), Matt (24) and Noah (22).

 

Trevor Hess - B Coach

Trevor Hess is excited to start his first year at Jefferson coaching football. Kyle is a 2014 graduate of Anoka High School where he played football. Kyle attended Bethel University and played nose tackle for the football team. He majored in Physical and Health Education. Kyle will be e a first-year teacher at Olson Middle School working with 8th graders.

 

Dave Ladd - Freshman Coach

Dave returns to the Bloomington Jefferson Football Program in 2019 as the Linebackers and Running Backs Coach for the freshman squad.  He is a graduate of Hutchinson High School and has also coached football at the youth, middle school and semi-professional levels. Coach Ladd is president of RDL & Associates and loves spending every spare moment he can with his eight-year old son, Ryan.

 

Ryan Lantz - Freshman Coach

Ryan is entering his second year of coaching at Jefferson. Hailing from Illinois, Ryan has worked with children of all ages in camp, school, and extracurricular settings. Ryan is currently a second year master’s student at the University of Minnesota in the Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology program, and will graduate in the spring of 2020.

 

Larry Norton - Freshmen Coach

Larry grew up in Apple Valley/Burnsville and played junior college football at Bakersfield CC in California and then on to Syracuse University where he was a two-year starter. He also played arena football in Tampa and Lacrosse. Larry is going on his eighth year coaching at Jefferson, eighth year working in the school system and fourth year teaching. He was recently married and has a 12 year old daughter. Larry is excited to bring in another exciting season with the freshmen team. Let’s Go Jags!

 

Brandon Peterson - Head Strength and Conditioning Coach

This is Brandon’s 8th year in the position at Jefferson and 15th year as a strength and conditioning coach. Brandon has previously served as a S&C coach at Minnesota State - Mankato, and Velocity Sports Performance. Brandon and his wife Sherrie have two kids, Tysen (14) and Aubrea (12).