Clay Anderson is a 1982 graduate of Northfield High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise Studies from St. Olaf College in 1986 and his Masters in Education degree from St. Mary’s University in 2008. Clay began his coaching career in Northfield as a junior high coach in  1987. From1989-1996 he served as the defensive coordinator for Northfield High School.

Clay has had 26 seasons as a head coach: Le Center (1997-1999), Norwood Young America (2000-2004), Albert Lea(2005- 2010), Benton Community, IA (2011-2013), Pipestone (2015- 2019) and Kimball Area (2020-Present). Clay has coached in seven state championship football games: three as defensive coordinator at Northfield H.S. (1993, 1994, & 1996) and four as a head coach (1999 - Le Center), (2002 - NYA) and (2015 & 2017 - Pipestone). Clay has twice been selected as the Class “AA” Coach of the Year in Minnesota (2002 - NYA, 2017 - Pipestone). Clay has been a frequent clinic presenter in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. He has also been an activities director for 23 years. This past fall was Clay’s 37th year in coaching. During that time, he has filled many roles within the MFCA, including serving on the Executive Committee and being the chairmen of the Mr. Football committee from 2004-2011 & 2019-present. Clay also served on the Football Advisory Committee to the MSHSL, coached in the All-Star game in 2000 & 2011, and was the President of the MFCA in 2006.Clay, currently the activities director and head football coach at Kimball Area H.S. is married to Melissa Radeke (Superintendent, Lester Prairie Schools) and resides in Dassel, Minnesota. Clay has one daughter, Kalah (Bryan) and one granddaughter, Lily. Clay also has three stepchildren, Hona (Kevin), Maddie (Luke) and Cooper (Catie) and five step-grandchildren: Soren, Kathryn, Elizabeth, Pax, and Margaret.

Rick Sutton is a 1980 graduate of Brooklyn Center H.S. and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English from St. Cloud State University in 1985. He began his coaching career while attending college at St. Cloud Cathedral in 1983. Rick has had 32 seasons as a head coach from the 9-Man level (Cottonwood 1985-1989) to 6A (Eagan 2006- 2015) and Farmington (2021-2022) with stops at Brooklyn Center (1990-1993) and Mankato West (1994-2005). His Mankato West teams were Class 4A State Champions in 1999 and 2002. In 2002 he was selected as the MN Vikings High School Coach of the Year and attended the NFL Youth Football Summit in Canton, Ohio. Rick has been a frequent clinic presenter in Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. He has also coached Track and Field for 31 years.

This past fall was Rick’s 40th in coaching, and during that time he has filled many roles within the MFCA, including serving as a Conference Rep for 29 years. At various times he has been involved with All-Star game selection, has served two terms on the Football Advisory Committee to the MSHSL, coached in the All-Star game in 1993 and 2010, served as the 4A and 5A Individual Academic All-State chair, is a member of the Tackle Cancer Committee and was a charter member of the Mr. Football Committee, serving as the chair from 2011-2018. He was a member of the initial MSHSL District Football Committee and was a co-presenter of MFCA’s 6A Playoff Proposal to the MSHSL. Rick has been involved with the Hall of Fame Banquet, creating the Inductees’ videos and the banquet slideshow since 2007. He was inducted into the MFCA Hall of Fame in 2017.

Rick and his wife of thirty-eight years Carmon reside in Rosemount and have two adult daughters, Kelsey (Dennis) and Maggie (Alex) and two granddaughters, Nina and Bodie.

Nick David is a 2003 graduate of Waterville-Elysian- Morristown High School where he was a standout three- sport athlete in football, wrestling, and baseball. In football, Nick was an Associated Press All-State Selection, an Academic All-State Selection, and played for the Outstate in a 34-13 Minnesota High School All-Star Game victory. Nick went on to earn his B.A. in Elementary Education and Coaching from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2007. While at Gustavus Adolphus College, Nick played on the Golden Gustie football team where he was a 4-year starter, a 4-year letter winner, a 2-time team captain, and a 2-time All-MIAC selection at defensive tackle. Nick has since earned his M.A. from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and his Administrative Licensure from the University of Minnesota.

Nick has coached high school football for 13 years, 9 of which have been as the Head Coach at Mound Westonka High School. While at Mound Westonka, Nick’s teams have won four sub-district championships. In 2015, the White Hawks clinched their first winning season since 1980 (35 years). Their 2015 sub-district championship was also the program’s first conference/district championship since 1975 (40 years). Nick’s teams have recorded four eight-win seasons, which tie the most wins recorded in a single season in school history (1975, 1979, 2015, 2016, 2017, & 2021). The White Hawks have won more games in Nick’s nine seasons at Mound Westonka than the forty previous years combined. Nick was selected as the Twin City Sub-District Coach of the Year following the 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2021 seasons.

Prior to arriving at Mound Westonka, Nick was the Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator for 4 years at Tri-City United High School in Montgomery. While at TCU, Nick helped build a football program that went 2-7, 1-8, and 2-7 in his first three seasons there, to an 8-3 overall record and Section 3AAA Runner-Up finish in 2012.

Nick currently serves on the MFCA Executive Committee, is the MFCA Individual Academic All-State Chair, and is on the MFCA Clinic Committee. Nick also serves as a Twin City Sub-District rep.

Along with being the Head Football Coach at Mound Westonka, Nick is also the Assistant Principal at the Middle School. Nick, his wife Melissa, and their children Atlas (6), Beatrice (3), and Otto (newborn) live in Mound.

Beau LaBore is a 1997 graduate of South St. Paul High School where he was on the football, basketball, and track and field teams. In football, Beau was all state, Academic All State, and played for the Metro in a 27-26 Minnesota All Star Game victory. Beau attended St. John’s University where he was a two-time All-American linebacker for football’s all-time wins leader John Gagliardi. The Johnnies finished NCAA Division III Runner-up in 2000. Beau earned his Masters Degree in Teaching and Learning and a K-12 Principal’s License from St. Mary’s University.

Beau will celebrate 21 years of coaching this fall, 17 as a head coach, including the last 11 seasons at Stillwater Area High School. In that time, the Ponies won two sub-district championships, including 2020 where Beau was selected Metro East Coach of the Year. In 2009, Beau was the defensive coordinator in a 54-13 All Star Game victory. Prior to head coaching, Beau was a defensive coordinator at his Alma Mater in 2004 that included a trip to the state tournament. As an assistant at Hastings, the Raiders went to state in 2002 and the Prep Bowl in 2003.

Beau is the MFCA Community Service Chair and on the Tackle Cancer Board. He served as MFCA President 2019-2020.

Beau and his wife Ashley live in Stillwater.

Dave Nigon received his bachelor’s degree in English Education in 1968 from St. Mary’s University. He began his professional career at Archbishop Grace High School, now known as Totino- Grace High School. His career at the school lasted 39 years. During that time he serve as teacher, coach and dean of students.

Early on, he earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from St. Thomas University. Dave became head football coach in 1971. Over the 33 years Dave was head coach, his teams were recognized as some of the best in the state. His teams won two state championships, along with several conference and section championships.

Dave is a member of the Minnesota Football Coaches Hall of Fame. He has received the National Football Foundation’s John Gagliardi Legacy Award. He has served as the President of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association.

Dave currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Association, is on the statewide AllStar Committee, and has been in a leadership role for the MFCA coaches for over three decades.

Dave and his wife, Caroll, live in Ham Lake, Minnesota. They have three children and six grandchildren.

Scott Tschimperle is a 1985 graduate of Silver Lake High School where he was on the football, basketball and track and field teams. In football, Scott played under Hall of Fame coach Buz Rumrill and played in Prep Bowl II and III, winning a State Championship in Prep Bowl II.

After high school, Scott attended Moorhead State University, earning a degree in Elementary Education in 1992 and a Special Education degree from Mankato State University in 1996.

Scott will celebrate 29 years of coaching and 28 years at Glencoe-Silver Lake. This fall, Scott will be starting his 13th year as the Panthers head coach. The Panthers have had three coaches in the history of the consolidation: Tschimperle and Hall of Fame coaches Buz Rumrill and Dave Dose. Prior to his head coaching duties, Scott was the offensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. During his career, the Panthers won five Prep Bowl Championships (2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008), finished runner-up in 2002 and 2009, and were semifinalists in 2004, 2005 and 2014. Overall, Glencoe-Silver Lake has made 12 State Tournament appearances.

Paul Lemke is a 1988 graduate of Glencoe High School where he was on the football, wrestling and baseball teams. In football, Paul played under Hall of Fame coach Dave Dose. After high school, Paul attended the University of St. Thomas, earning his degree in Social Studies Education in 1993. He earned a Masters of Education from St. Mary’s University in 2004.

Paul will celebrate 28 years on the Panthers coaching staff this fall. His assistant coaching role has included special teams (since 1997), offensive line and defensive ends. During his career, the Panthers racked up five Prep Bowl Championships (2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008), finished runner-up in 2002 and 2009, were semifinalists in 2004, 2005 and 2014, and made 12 State Tournament appearances. He is proud to have coached with Hall of Fame coaches Buz Rumrill and Dave Dose.

Paul is a 2009 recipient of the Bush Nash award and was named Assistant Coach of the Year in 2019. His career record is 237-68.

Paul and his wife Amy have two children, Jackson (19) and Katelyn (17), and reside in Glencoe.

Jim Dotseth is a graduate of Clarkfield High School, Waldorf JC, the University of Minnesota and St. Mary’s University. In high school he earned letters in football, basketball, track and baseball. At Waldorf JC he was all-conference in football and all-state in basketball while earning an Associate of Arts degree. Jim later finished his Bachelor of Science degree (1968) and Master of Education (1972) at the University of Minnesota. In 1997, he completed his administrative degree from St. Mary’s University.

Jim spent 30 years teaching and coaching in the Minneapolis Public School District – his early years at Roosevelt High School and later at Patrick Henry High School. During his years in the Minneapolis district, Jim coached a variety of sports including football, wrestling, track and badminton. He was named Minneapolis conference coach of the year several times in wrestling and football. He finished his career in education in the Chaska School District as an administrator.

Jim has been an active member of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association having chaired several committees over the years including MFCA Banquet Chair, All-Star Game Director (1987-1999), Awards Committee Chair and currently Secretary Treasurer. He received the MFCA Distinguished Service Award in 1998 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2012, Jim was inducted into the Waldorf College Hall of Fame.

Jim and his wife Wanda have two daughters and four grandchildren (all living in the metro area): Jennica, husband Paul Burgh and children Caleb and Hannah (Maple Grove); Deena, husband Wade Laugen, daughters Avery and Maia (Apple Valley).

Dave was born and raised in Hayfield Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota on a football scholarship, was a Williams Scholar, and graduated with a BA in Math Education. Dave taught math and coached football and basketball at Apple Valley High School for 12 years. In 1989 he transferred to the new Eagan High School as a counselor – he is still working in that role today. Along with his work as a counselor, he served as the school’s first Head Football coach for 17 years.

Today, he is the Defensive Coordinator at Eastridge High School, alongside his son Dan, who is the head coach. Dave also serves as the Director of the Minnesota All Star Football game. He was inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014.

Dave and his wife, Debbie, have four children and three grandchildren. His son, Joe, is currently serving as a Major in the Army. Joe is stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where he lives with his wife Nikki and daughter Margot. His son, Dan, is a history teacher and is the Head Coach at Eastridge high school. His son, Tom, is a math teacher and Defensive Coordinator at Hastings high school. Tom and his wife, Susan, and two sons, Harry and Ted, live in Eagan. His daughter, Megan, is a corporate event planner and lives with her fiancé in Washington D.C.

Bill is a graduate of Park Rapids Area High School and the University of Minnesota-Morris, where he was a two time NAIA All-American running back for the Cougars. After college, Bill student taught in Willmar, Minnesota and coached football under the great Deryl Ramey.

After three years in Willmar, Magnuson landed his first teaching job (7th and 9th grade Science) in Windom, Minnesota. While at Windom, he was the head football coach for 5 years after assisting the first year.

After getting married in July of 2000 to his beautiful wife, Loni, he accepted a teaching position in the Sauk Rapids-Rice School district. In his first year in Sauk Rapids, he assisted long time head coach, Ken Hill, and then in 2001 took over as the head football coach for the Storm for the next 15 years.

In the fall of 2016 Magnuson accepted a new position in the Pequot Lakes school district as a 7th grade Life Science teacher and is currently an assistant varsity football coach under former NFL kicker, Chip Lohmiller.

In his 20 years as a head football coach Bill’s teams have won 4 section championships and finished as state runner up in class B in 1996 (Windom). Coach Mags has coached in many other areas in including both middle school and high school basketball and baseball. He is also very active member in the MFCA especially in the area of the All-Star game.

Bill and Loni now reside in Breezy Point, MN and have three sons, Bode, 14, Riggs, 12, and Tade, 8.  Coach Mags credits his coaching philosophy and style to the many positive influences and contacts he has had during both his playing days and coaching career.

Terry is a graduate of Montgomery-Lonsdale High School and the University of Minnesota, where he lettered for Joe Salem and was coached by the legendary, Butch Nash.

After college, Terry coached one year at Montgomery-Lonsdale before landing a teaching and coaching position at Le Sueur High School. He was an assistant football, basketball, and track coach for one year before being named the head football coach in the fall of 1985. He inherited the program from another Minnesota legend, MFCA Hall of Famer, Bruce Frank. Terry led the Le Sueur-Henderson Giants for 27 seasons, winning 10 Minnesota River Conference tiles and four Section championships. He is currently an assistant football coach for the Giants and has continued his basketball coaching duties where he’s been at every level from 5th grade to varsity in over twenty years with the program.

Terry has been an active MFCA member since the 1980s. He was the Secretary-Treasurer for a number of years and currently serves as the Director of Publications.

Terry and his wife, Megan, have two sons: Frank, 16 and Peter, 14.

Rob Nielsen is a 1985 graduate of Moorhead High School. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the University of North Dakota in 1989. While at North Dakota, Rob was a member of the football team. He also attended Concordia College in Moorhead where he completed the requirements for licensure in Elementary Education in 1991.

Nielsen started his coaching career in the fall of 1989 as an assistant football coach at Detroit Lakes High School.  He currently serves as the Lakers Defensive Coordinator.  As a football coach, he has had the opportunity to be on the staff of four state championship teams and numerous section championship teams.. Rob also served as the Head Track and Field coach in Detroit Lakes from 1992 to 2003. During his track coaching tenure he had the opportunity to coach 2 individual state champions and several Mid-State Conference Championship teams.

Rob started his teaching career in the fall of 1991 teaching 4th grade. From 1991 to the present has served the Detroit Lakes Public School System in several positions. For the past three years, Rob has been  the Instructional Technology Coach for the Detroit Lakes Schools.

Rob has been and member of the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association and the Minnesota Football Coaches Association for 20+ years.  He has been actively involved with the MSHSCA and the MFCA for the past ten years.  Rob is currently the Vice President of the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association. He also serves the MSHSCA as webmaster.  He serves the MFCA as webmaster and as the data coordinator for the annual recruiting fair.

Rob and his wife, Mindy have four children: Ally(23), McKensie(21), Shay(17) and Jay(14)

A native of Hayfield, John Gross received a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Thomas in 1964 where he played football and basketball. He earned his Masters degree in Minnesota History from Mankato State in 1971

John coached football, basketball, and baseball at Bethlehem Academy in Fairbault from 1964 to 1967 and then a variety of boys and girls sports at Medford high School for nearly three decades.  As head football coach, he directed the Tigers to four conference championships, three section titles, and four state tournament appearances. Two of his football teams at Medford were unbeaten; including 1981, when the Tigers won the state class "C" championship. John was honored as class "C" coach of the year and named head coach for the Outstate team in the 1982 All-Star football game.

After retiring from Medford in 1997, John spent the next five years as an assistant coach at St, Olaf followed by three seasons as offensive coordinator at Bethlehem Academy. A long time active member of the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association, as well as past president, he was inducted into the Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2001.  John received the George Haun Award from the MSHSCA in 2002 for his many years of service and in 2011 was named the Honorary Coach for the South in the annual high school all-star football game.  After an eight year hiatus, he returned to Bethlehem Academy last fall as their offensive coordinator and the Cardinals finished runners-up in the Class "A" Prep Bowl; losing 20-14 to Mahnomen.

A member of the Football Coaches Association for  more than four decades, John has served on many committees and lectured at football coaching clinics in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and South Dakota. He currently represents the retired football coaches on our executive committee and assists in the operation of the MFCA annual coaching clinic. He and his wife Pat, a long time teacher and girls coach at Medford enjoy traveling which has taken them to virtually every state.

Conley graduated from Ada High School in 1960. Upon graduation, Conley went to the University of North dakota.  He graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Health.

In 1966, Conley was hired as a physical education and health teacher at Swanville High School. He taught at Swanville for 33 years and coached baseball, basketball and wrestling. He was the head football coach for 34 years and compiled a record of 202-120-2. his teams won eight conference titles, three section championships, and made four state tournament appearances, reaching the semi-finals in 1987. Since 1966, Conley has also served as the summer recreation coordinator.

Conley was named conference coach of the year nine times and section coach of the year three times. He is a lifetime member of the MFCA and has received the 30, 35, 40, and 45 year service awards. He was an assistant coach for the Metro All-Star team in 1984. He served as president of the MFCA in 1991. Conley was inducted into the MFCA Hall of Fame in 2007. He was a member of the Academic All State Individual Award Committee from 1989 through 1999 and has served as chairman for the Academic All State Team Award Committee since its inception in 1990. He is also a member of the MFCA Hall of fame Selection Committee.

Conley has been an assistant coach at Browerville for the past 12 years, serving as the offensive coordinator for the past nine seasons. He and his wife Kathy have three children - Paula(37), Cory(33), and Kristin(29). When he isn't coaching, Conley enjoys attending coaching clinics, hunting, fishing and gardening.

Wayne "Ribsy" Petermeier has been a member of the Football Coaches Association since 1988.  A graduate of the University of Minnesota at Morris, he went on to coach at his alma mater, Melrose high School, for one year under Daryl Oja. From there he went to Hayfield, MN where he coached on year under Don Henderson as a Hayfield/Dodge Center C-Hawk. Ribsy then became the head coach at Hayfield for one year. Leaving Hayfield, he moved on to Browerville where he was an assistant under Hall of Fame coach Gary Graham for his first eleven years. The past nine seasons, Ribsy has been the head coach of the Browerville Tigers. He is a past Football Coaches Association President serving as President in 2007. Ribsy is the current Prairie South Conference representative. he served as an assistant coach of the 2007 Outstate All Star team. His other coaching duties have included a girls' head basketball coach for eight years, a Jr. High basketball coach for 12 years and the head fast pitch softball coach for for the past twenty years in Browerville. He and his wife, Kris, have three children: Brent 17, Kyle 15 and Nate 11.

Coach Mike Watson has been selected to receive the first annual Don Swanson Award, given in honor of the late Don Swanson. "Swannie" was a long-time head coach and athletic director at Minneapolis Patrick Henry and served as the director of this clinic for more than twenty years.

Coach Watson is a deserving recipient. A lifelong member of our association, Mike served as a conference rep, coached in the All-Star game, and served as chair of the Individual Academic All-State Awards committee.

After 38 years as a high school head coach, the last 32 at Centennial, Mike will retire this year. He goes out in grand style, garnering Northwest Suburban Conference Coach of the Year, Section 7AAAAA Coach of the Year, and KARE-11 TV's All-Metro Coach of the Year. A graduate of North Park College in Chicago, Mike has also coached wrestling and track during his career and he served as an athletic director for many years. He and his wife, Karen, have three grown children, Matt, Heidi and Brett and they enjoy their eight grandchildren. In retirement, they plan to travel but also intend to stay connected to coaching and the MFCA.