2023 Coaching Staff
Vince Varpness – Head Coach
Coach Varpness has been coaching in Burnsville since 2015 and brings a vast amount of experience with him to Burnsville. Some previous coaching positions include: head football coach, offensive coordinator at the high school and college level along with experience in the Big 10 conference at MN under Coach Glen Mason. This well rounded coaching background includes coaching a variety of positions on both sides of the ball including QB, WR, RB, LB, DB and Special Teams. Varpness also has an extensive recruiting background, recruiting the states of FL, OH, MI, KY and TX - some of the richest football talent states in the country. Levels coached include: high school, Jr. College (MCCC), DIII (MIAC) and DI (Big Ten).
Varpness’s playing experience includes being a 2 yr/2 way starter at WR and DB at Worthington Senior High School. In college, at MN West he was a 1st Team All-Conference Strong Safety, 1st Team All-State, 1st Team Region XIII, Academic All-State and played in the 1997 JR. College All-American Bowl. He then went on to play at Bemidji State University (DII NSIC) where he won the "Kamikaze" (Big Hit) award several times and was the Special Teams MVP his senior year.
“Coach V” has been a part of turning around 4 teams from losing to winning programs: at MN West (10-1 season/back-to-back Conference Championships and back to back State Championship appearances) Bemidji State University (the school’s first winning season in 11 years), the University of Minnesota Gophers (3 bowl games in 4 seasons) and here at Burnsville when the team went to State in 2015. He enjoys and embraces the challenge and daily grind of constant improvement and development in all areas of a football program.
Vince has a Physical Education/Health teaching license from Bemidji State University and received his Master’s Degree in Applied Kinesiology from the University of MN in the spring of 2002. He teaches Physical Education and Health courses here at the high school.
Coach Varp isn’t the first “Coach Varp” in the family. His father Don Varpness served as a head football coach for over 30 years at the high school and college level. Don was President of the MN Football Coaches Association in the early 70’s and helped set up the state’s first football playoff system while serving as Chairman of the Board. Don is a member of 4 Football Hall of Fames and is a graduate of Bemidji State University. He passed away in 2007, but Vince’s mom (Audrey), a lifelong football fan, can still be spotted at football games cheering enthusiastically for her teams.
Varpness lives in Richfield, MN with his wife Kristen (English teacher at Bloomington Jefferson High School), his son Jack T.D. Varpness (9) as well as their pets Moxie, Jersey and Loki.
COACHING STAFF
Varsity Coaches
Jim Carlson
Jim is our DC and has been coaching in Burnsville since 2014. Previously coached at Bemidji, Shakopee and Macalester college. Played at Bemidji state, Verndale HS. Married to his wife Kori and they have 2 beautiful children Gabe and Stella.
Ryan Kolumbus
LB Coach since 2018
Don Willis
3rd year at Burnsville Linebacker & Special Teams Coach,San Diego State College attended&Played 40 years of Coaching Experience, NFL-Europe,College, High School “Coach *Julian Edelman * College
His Son Derek Willis helps the Blaze with Special Teams and is a former St Paul Saints player.
Tommie Gaston
DL Coach at BHS since 2017
Ryan King
Coach King begins his first year coaching at Burnsville High School and serves as the Co-Offensive Coordinator, QBs Coach and Co-Special Teams Coordinator. Coach King played and graduated from Hastings High School. His coaching experience includes stops at Duluth East High School (MN), Lakewood High School (SC), Riverdale High School (FL), Minot State University and most recently Forest Lake High School (MN). Coach King teaches High School Health and Physical Education at Burnsville High School and also coaches Baseball. Coach King graduated from the University of Minnesota - Duluth with his undergrad and received his Masters Degree from Minot State University.
Andy Grahn
OL Coach at BHS
Tre Blanchard
RB Coach at BHS
Christian Kibler
WR Coach at BHS
Joe Kinsella
Coach Joe Kinsella has been coaching sports since 1982 and coaching in Burnsville for a total 24 years. 1992-1999, He has coached Football,Boys and Girls Basketball and Track. Joe left for 7 years,got married,worked with a brother in a video production company. Then in 2006, Burnsville asked him back to coach. So he brought his IT experience back to Burnsville and for the last 17 years to the present, has coached Football (Director of Football Operations),Girls Basketball (Varsity Assistant), and Softball(Varsity Assistant). Joe has been married for 24 years and has 2 daughters, and lives in Eagan. Go Blaze!
9/10th Grade Coaches
Quincy Bryant
Has over 20 years of high school coaching experience. He played football at Augsburg college. Started coaching at running backs and linebackers at south high in 1997. In 2000 coached linebackers at Mankato West for the eventual state champion Scarlet Knights. In 2004 Quincy coached D-line at Bloomington Kennedy and in 2012 coached linebackers at Bloomington Jefferson. In 2014, he took over as Defensive Coordinator Bloomington Kennedy. In 2016 Quincy was the Defensive coordinator at Washburn high school. He the took on the role of defensive coordinator at Hopkins high school in 2017 and 2018. Before, coming to Burnsville in 2021. Quincy will be heading up our 9/10th grade team for this season.
Dave McDevitt
McDevitt has been teaching social studies at BHS for 23 years. He has also coached football at BHS for 10 years. His family life consists of his wonderful wife and 2 kids that Graduated from BHS in 2022 and my youngest will be graduating from BHS in 2027.
Bounthavy Khamratthanome
Assistant in the program since 2017.
Hamza Hassan
Assistant in the program since 2018.
Isaiah Sims
Assistant in the program since 2020.
Derek Willis
Volunteer in the program since 2021.
Andre Winters
New Volunteer this year
Adam Iverson
This will be Iverson's first year assisting the football staff. He has coached tennis and cross country at the middle school level. Iverson is in his 21st year of teaching in ISD 191 and received the Community of Excellence Award for Teaching Excellence in 2019. He is a graduate of Apple Valley High School and the University of Minnesota. Iverson has two children who are both swimmers at Eastview High School. He works everyday on improving himself and overall well-being, achieving a sense of balance, and believing in his capabilities. Little known fact: Iverson is a Five-time fantasy football champion!