Team & Coach Information
BHS Athletic Directory 24-25
Ballard HS Athletic Coach Directory
The BHS Athletic department staff is committed to do all we can to provide a positive experience for your student through our core PACT principles. Pride, Attitude, Compete, and Trust
Club Sports are a valuable part of Ballard HS as well but are not part of the WA Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) sanctioned sports as well as our Unified Teams. Team funding comes from players, families, and donors, instead of SPS and WIAA. Scholarships may be available. Club Sport signups are on team websites. Follow all our teams on their Social Media Accounts.
Athletic Director & Trainers
BHS Athletic Director
Eric Ensign
erensign@seattleschools.org
Athletic Secretary
Bethany Nielcen
206-252-1000
blnielcen@seattleschools.org
BHS Athletic Trainer
Loka Murphy
loka.murphy@seattlechildrens.org
Bio: I have served as the athletic trainer for Ballard High School for almost 19 years (August of 2006). I am employed by Seattle Children’s Hospital, but I am contracted out to the Seattle Public Schools to provide athletic training services to Ballard High School. My job as an athletic trainer is very rewarding and filled with lots of variety as I work with high school athletes to navigate their injuries and come up with solutions.
I was born and raised in Missoula, MT, with my school-age summers spent in California with my mom. I always loved athletics and what I lacked in skill I made up in hard work and effort. My dad owned a restaurant in Missoula and both my sister and I worked many hours there. I graduated from the University of Montana with a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance, with an emphasis in athletic training.
That summer I moved to Seattle with my wife at the time and our two boys. That August, I began working with Ballard High School. During that time Virginia Mason oversaw the athletic training program and their model was to have one athletic trainer for every two high schools. Fortunately for me, my position was only for Ballard High School in large part due to Jim Vatn, Phil Brockman, and the Ballard Foundation. Mr. Vatn wanted BHS to have their own athletic trainer. His daughter had suffered a knee injury the spring prior and no one was there to attend to her injury.
Two and a half years into my job, Seattle Children’s Hospital donated $46,000 to create a sports medicine program through the Career and Technical Education department. For two and a half years, I was a full-time employee of SPS. I taught two sports medicine classes a semester and provided athletic training services after school. That lasted until budget cuts in the state ended to program. At that point I was hired by Seattle Children’s Hospital, who in the meantime had taken over the athletic training program.
Over the years I have seen many practices and sporting events as well as managed a variety of injuries from blisters, broken bones, dislocated joints, muscle strains, ligament sprains and concussions. Through it all, I have been grateful for the support and inclusivity I have felt from Ballard High School and the surrounding community.
On a personal side, I am happily re-married. My two boys no longer seem like boys as they are 20 and 24, kind and caring men and both live in my hometown. I fell in love with running a year or two into my career at BHS and have spent many early mornings running around the north Seattle area. I also started a running group (the Seattle Green Lake Running Group) and that has provided ample challenges, growth in my organizing skills and much satisfaction in seeing it flourish. My wife and I are very active in our church, we enjoy hiking in the summer, and I am discovering that I enjoy going on road trips.
Learn more about Loka in this historical review article that was posted in the Ballard HS Student Paper The Talisman!
Strength & Conditioning Coaches
Our team is expanding and we’re super excited to have very highly qualified coaches. Each coach has a passion for working with young people and obviously, strength and conditioning. They bring something special and unique to the table.
All sessions are open to all Ballard students. Stop by the weight room after school and ask Coach Hubbell or Coach Matthiesen what session is the right fit.
Schedule
Please confirm with Strength Coaches s this schedule may change during the school year.
- Monday
- Morning: 7-8 a.m. Boys Basketball, Volleyball & Wrestling
- Afternoon 4-5 a.m. Football, Cheer & Gymnastics
- 5:30-6 p.m. Girls Basketball
- Tuesday
- Morning: 7-8 a.m. Boys Soccer
- Afternoon 4-4:15 p.m. Boys Lacrosse
- 4-5 p.m. Girls Soccer
- 4-5 p.m. Track Throwers
- Wednesday
- Morning: 7-8 a.m. Boys Basketball, Volleyball, Cheer & Wrestling
- Afternoon 3-4 p.m. Football
- 3:30-4:30 p.m. Gymnastics
- Thursday
- Morning: 7-8 a.m. Boys Soccer
- Afternoon 4-4:15 p.m. Boys Lacrosse
- 4-5 p.m. Girls Soccer
- Friday
- Afternoon: 4-5 p.m. Football
- 5:45-6:30 p.m. Girls Lacrosse
Coaches
- Coach Jared Hubbell
- Coach Colin Matthiesen | Email: CJMatthiesen@seattleschools.org
- If you have questions or want to schedule time. Reach out to Coach Matthiesen
Follow updates on Instagram @ballardstrength and @bhs_athleticboosterclub.
Spring Sports
Year Round Sports
Cheer
Year Round
Coach: Open
Information on the Cheer Website
Information on Competitive Cheer on the Metro League site.
Dance
Year Round
Bethany Nielcen
blnielcen@seattleschools.org
Information on the BHS Dance Team Website
Official Instagram: @ballardhsdanceteam
Information on Dance and Drill on the Metro League site.
Club Sports
Girls Lacrosse
Club Sport
Head Coach: Rachel Moody
rachelmoody29@gmail.com
Website: Girls Lacrosse
Instagram: @bhs_girlslax
Sail Team
Club Sport
Head Coach: Annie Sorensen
juniorsprogram@cycseattle.org
Ultimate Frisbee
Club Sport
- Fall Sport (Boys)
- Winter Sport (Coed)
- Spring Sport (Girls)
Head Coaches: Stephen Semmens and Ximmy Hofsetz.
Parent Volunteers: Genie and Shelby at email: BallardUltimate@gmail.com
Club Info & Registration at BallardUltimate.org
Unified Club Sports
Basketball, Unified
Unified
Club Sport
Head Coach: Jeff Hanson
jshanson@seattleschools.org
Athletes can sign up through FinalForms for the program’s winter basketball season, or email Jeff for more information at jshanson@seattleschools.org. Follow @ballard_unified.
Visit the Metro League site for updates.
Soccer, Unified
Unified
Club Sport
Head Coach: Jeff Hanson
jshanson@seattleschools.org
Athletes can sign up through FinalForms for the program’s winter basketball season, or email Jeff for more information at jshanson@seattleschools.org. Follow @ballard_unified.
Visit the Metro League site for updates.
Fall Sports
Boys Cross Country
Fall Sport
Email for practices and paperwork:
Head Coach: Day Frostenson; dkfrostenson@seattleschools.org
Girls Cross Country
Fall Sport
Email for practices and paperwork:
Head Coach: Day Frostenson; dkfrostenson@seattleschools.org
Football
Fall Sport
Head Coach: Coach Malik Prince
mrprince@seattleschools.org
Football Emailed Communication Updates
For photos by Ed Tanaka. Follow him on Instagram @edtanakaphoto
Girls Soccer
Fall Sport
Head Coach: Taryn Brandell
tebrandel@seattleschools.org
Follow them on Instagram: @ballardgirlssoccer
Volleyball
Fall Sport
Head Coach: Zach Wurtz
zawurtz@seattleschools.org
Instagram: @ballardvolleyball
Winter Sports
Boys Basketball
Winter Sport
Head Coach: Open
Girls Basketball
Winter Sport
Head Coach: Open
Gymnastics
Winter Sport
Head Coach: Stephanie Gundel
sjgundel@seattleschools.org
Instagram: @ballardgymastics
Boys Swim & Dive
Winter Sport
Head Coach: Kyle Morean
kimorean@seattleschools.org
(Metro League Coach of the Year 22-23)
Bowling
Winter Sport
Head Coach: Scott Cachopo
sacachopo@seattleschools.org
Instagram: @ballardgirlsbowling
Flag Football
Winter Sport
Head Coach: Laura Lehni
lllehni@seattleschools.org
Announcement
Flag Football Newest Sport Sanctioned by WIAA: On Monday April 21, 2025, WIAA announced a vote to add Girls Flag Football as a sanctioned sport. The Beavers already have an inclusive, no-cut Flag Football team that just finished its third year of competition. According to former ABC Community Outreach Chair Beth Sylves, this is the first sport added to the WIAA roster since 1999! Go Flag Football!
High School Seasons & Metro 3A Schedules
View schedules on the Metro League website.
Fall Sports
XC (Boys)
XC (Girls)
Football
Golf (Boys)
Golf (Girls)
Soccer (Girls)
Slowpitch SB (G)
Swim & Dive (G)
Volleyball
Can’t Find What You Are Looking For?
Email me with tips on information you would like located here or better ways to support your searches on the Ballard HS website. Diane Taylor, BHS Website Editor at dmtaylor@seattleschools.org Thank you!