Varsity Coaching Staff

 

Brad Beeskow - Head Football Coach / Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks

 

Coach Beeskow begins his third year as Head Football Coach at Forest Lake, with a 13-7 record and two section championship runner up finishes in the previous two years. In addition to his head coaching duties, he will coordinate the offense and coach the quarterbacks. Coach Beeskow played high school football at Andover High School, where he was an all-conference player, and collegiate football at St. Cloud State University and the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, where he was a starter and four year letter winner. His coaching experience includes stops at Augsburg University (2015-2018) as an offensive assistant and the Academy of Holy Angels (2019-2021) as the offensive coordinator, where his team won back to back section championships with trips to the state tournament in 2020 & 2021. Coach Beeskow’s goal for the program is to create an energetic and exciting work environment as we teach life skills through the game of football to our players and our families where we enjoy the process of playing high school football and the relationships we create through our football family. The team motto of “WORK” truly embodies what it means to be a football player and community member in Forest Lake where we control how hard we work on a daily basis. Coach Beeskow currently lives in Forest Lake with his wife Haley and daughter’s Benson (3) and Bayler (1). He currently works as a Dean of Students at Forest Lake High School.

 

Adam Burtness - Defensive Coordinator / Inside Linebackers

 

Coach Burtness begins his third year as Defensive Coordinator at Forest Lake. Through 2 years his defenses have ranked top 10 in 6A football, including leading the state in PPG allowed and rushing YPG allowed in 2023. In addition to his coordinating duties he will coach the inside linebackers for the defense. Coach Burtness played high school football at Andover High School and has been coaching high school football for the previous 14 years. His coaching experience includes stops at Andover (2011-2015, 2020-2021) and Irondale High School (2016-2019) where he has coached linebackers, defensive backs, and running backs. Coach Burtness’ coaching philosophy is to provide passion and confidence in helping young adults grow to become their best on the football field and in the classroom. Coach Burtness currently lives in Columbia Heights with his significant other Bella. He currently works as a personal trainer in downtown Wayzata.

 

Ross Kigner - Receivers / Technology Coordinator

 

Coach Kigner begins his second year as the Receivers coach at Forest Lake. In addition to his duties as wide receivers coach he serves as the technology coordinator. His prior experience includes 10+ years coaching at Roseville High School. Coach Kigner helped secure two SEC Football Conference Championships, a trip to the 6A Football State Semi-Finals, an SEC Conference Champion in the Shot-Put, and was awarded the 2019 Section 4AA Assistant Track & Field Coach of the Year award. Coach Kigner grew up in White Bear Lake and is a graduate of Mounds Park Academy. He played football for St. Paul Academy before becoming a four-year letter winner as a defensive back and kicker at the Univ. of Minnesota Morris. Coach Kigner’s mission is to strengthen our relationships everyday which will make us better at everything in the community, classroom, and in competition. Coach Kigner currently lives in White Bear Lake with his wife Lauren, daughter Rorie (4), and son Luka (1). He works as a property manager and a substitute teacher at Forest Lake High School.

 

Jesse Bade - Running Backs / JV Offensive Coordinator / Head Strength and Conditioning

 

Coach Bade begins his sixth year coaching at Forest Lake and his third as the running backs coach. In addition to his duties as running backs coach he is also the JV offensive coordinator and the head strength and conditioning coach for the high school. Coach Bade played high school football at Genoa Kingston High School in Illinois and collegiate football at William Penn University. His coaching experience also includes work as an assistant coach at William Penn University. Coach Bade’s coaching philosophy is as a coach, the impact that is made on the athletes that we come in contact with is some of the most important parts of these student athletes lives as they grow into the young men and women that they will become after their time with us. His goal is to positively impact the student athletes in as many ways as possible and hopefully mold the young men and women of our community into respectable, responsible, and hard working members of our society as they move forward into their own journeys. There is nothing that pays more than hard work and I am forever grateful to be a part of their journey. Coach Bade currently lives in North Branch with his wife Ashlee and daughter Gracelynn (1). He works as a Special Education teacher at Forest Lake High School.

 

Eric Olson - Offensive Line

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Coach Olson will begin his first year as the offensive line coach at Forest Lake. Coach Olson played high school football at Madelia, MN and college football at Minnesota State University - Mankato. His previous coaching experience includes Offensive Line Coach at Apopka H.S. FL, Head Coach at Windermere H.S. FL, Offensive Coordinator at Freedom High H.S. FL, Offensive Line Coach at Astronaut H.S. FL and Head Coach at Cedar Mountain H.S. MN. Coach Olson’s coaching philosophy is to try to keep the game simple so players understand what to do. When players understand it builds confidence. Confident players play more aggressively and faster. Aggressive football players win more football games. He currently lives in Andover, MN with his wife Danielle and his daughter Mackenzie. He currently works at Wyoming Elementary as a 6th grade teacher.

 

Brandon Westberg - Offensive Line - 

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Coach Westberg will begin his first year as an offensive line coach at Forest Lake. Coach Westberg played high school football at Cambridge-Isanti High School where he was a Mr. Football finalist and all state player. He played college football at North Dakota State University, where he was a 3 year starter for the Bison.. He currently lives in Cambridge, MN and will be enrolling in Chiropractic school in the fall.

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Aaron Pavek - Defensive Line / Special Team Coordinator

 

Coach Pavek begins his third year as the defensive line coach at Forest Lake. In addition to his duties coaching the defensive line, he also serves as the teams special teams coordinator. Coach Pavek played high school football at Brainerd High School where he was an all conference player and played in the Minnesota high school all star game and collegiate football at St. Cloud State University. His coaching experience includes work as an assistant coach at St. Cloud State once he finished his playing career. Coach Pavek’s coaching philosophy supports technical aggressive defensive line play as he strives to help players realize their potential at the High School Level. Coach Pavek currently lives in Forest Lake with his wife Kyli, daughter Rowyn (4), son JJ (2) and loyal hunting companion Kona. He currently works at Arvig Media as a Marketing Executive.

 

Ben Bahneman - Cornerbacks

 

Coach Bahneman begins his third season as the cornerbacks coach at Forest Lake. Coach Bahneman played high school football at Centennial High School where he was an all district player. His coaching philosophy is ‘Hard Work Pays Off’ and ’Trust The Process’. He believes that this can not only be applied to sports but also your everyday life. Some of Coach Bahneman's goals are to achieve sustainable success on the football field as well as in the classroom, build lifelong relationships, and to assist our community / players / staff to become the best self we can be. Coach Bahneman currently lives in Shoreview with his wife Lauren and his son Brooks (3) and he currently works at SPS Commerce as a Lead Analyst under Fulfillment Operations.

 

Derrick Griffin - Safeties ​

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Coach Griffin will begin his first year as the safeties coach at Forest Lake. Coach Griffin played high school football at Eagan High School. Coach Griffin currently lives in St. Paul and serves in the United States Military.

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Chinni Oji - Defensive Consultant 

Coach Oji begins his third season as a defensive consultant at Forest Lake, having previously served as the safeties coach for two seasons. Coach Oji played high school football at Irondale High School where he was an all district player and collegiate football at the University of St. Thomas where he was an All-American. Coach Oji coached defensive backs for 6 years at Irondale High School. His coaching philosophy is putting players in the best position to show their full potential in all aspects of the game. Coach Oji currently lives in St. Paul with his girlfriend Kelsey and he currently works in the Mounds View School District in the department of Educational Equity.

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Eric Ososki - Outside Linebackers / JV Defensive Coordinator

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Coach Ososki begins his second season as the outside linebackers coach at Forest Lake. In addition to his duties as outside linebackers coach he also serves as the JV defensive coordinator. Coach Ososki played high school football at Irondale High School where he was an all district player and has coached at Irondale High School before coming to Forest Lake.

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Justin Wolf - Kickers/Punters

 

Coach Wolf begins his third year as the kickers/punters coach at Forest Lake. Coach Wolf played high school football at Spring Lake Park High School and ran track collegiately at Minnesota State University - Mankato. His coaching experience includes stops at Buffalo High School (2014-2017) and Champlin Park High School (2020-2021) where he has also coached soccer and track and field. His coaching philosophy is to connect with players while teaching the fundamentals of accurate and consistent kicking which provides a dependable tool to the important aspect of the game in special teams. Coach Wolf currently lives in Forest Lake with his wife Lisa and daughter Aspen (3). He currently works at State Farm as a wealth management representative.