Rick Risk
Middle School Boys’ Soccer and Basketball

Rick has been involved in athletics either at the coaching level or competitive level since junior high. In high school, he competed in football and basketball, and in college was the number one singles player on his tennis team. He also played on the junior varsity basketball team. Rick has a well-rounded experience in coaching. He has coached ten seasons of boys’ tennis, ten seasons of girls’ tennis, five seasons of boys’ soccer, three seasons of girls’ soccer, eight seasons of girls’ basketball, one season of boys’ basketball, and three seasons of girls’ gymnastics at the high school level. At the junior high/middle school level, Rick has coached one season of girls’ basketball, two seasons of boys’ basketball and one season of boys’ soccer. Rick also taught high school English and psychology for 19 years. He became the athletic director at CSS in the summer of 2001.

Head Coaches

Amos White
Varsity Boys' Soccer Coach and Varsity Girls' Soccer Coach
Coach White has been coaching middle and high school soccer since 1993. He has extensive experience coaching both boys and girls and is currently the Head Varsity Upper School boys' and girls' soccer coach. He has helped run residential soccer camps in Colorado, Texas, and New York. Coach White was a three-year varsity starter for Houghton College in New York and helped contribute to their wining three district titles and a regional runner-up finish. He played high school soccer for John Bapst High School in Maine where he was a two-year captain and earned All-State honors for his play at midfield. His strengths as a coach include emphasizing fundamentals and teaching offensive and defensive tactics. Coach White has led the boys’ team to its top two-season (2008-09) posting winning records and qualifying for the State play-offs. Coach White teaches Middle School history at CSS.

Kyong Lee
Head Upper School Girls' Volleyball Coach
Coach Lee has been playing volleyball for more than 25 years and coaching on and off for ten years. Since moving to Colorado Springs in 2001, she has coached Club Stellar teams to qualify for three straight National Championship tournaments (2006,2007,2008). She has also coached at the collegiate level at Colorado College (2006) as the head junior varsity coach. Most recently, she has been the head CSS Middle School coach (2007) and is the current CSS head varsity coach (2008). In her first year as head coach, Coach Lee led the varsity girls to their first League and District Championship and second place at the State Championships (2008). She brings a love for the game, a wealth of experience, and the need for mental and physical discipline to the team. Her coaching philosophy is based upon providing the necessary skills and knowledge to the players, and allowing them to learn to be good decision makers and team players on the court. Coach Lee went to high school in Southern California where she graduated as valedictorian in 1987. She attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1991 with Bachelor of Science in Economics with dual concentrations in Finance and Multinational Management.

Carla Davies
Head Middle School and 5th/6th Grade Girls' Volleyball Coach and Assistant Coach Middle School Girls’ Basketball Coach
Carla began coaching volleyball at CSS in 2008 and basketball in 2009. Her volleyball teams have consistently finished near or on top in league play. In basketball, she has been an integral part of the team’s rise to success. Carla played high school volleyball and basketball and then went on to play college volleyball. Carla has two children who attend CSS and works full time for the Department of Corrections in Castle Rock.

John Krause
Head Upper School Boys’ Golf Coach
Coach Krause has been playing golf since 1981 and teaching it since 1992. He began his love for the game in South Dakota as a kid and then continued while growing up in Montana. Coach Krause founded the University of Montana Golf Club, which competed in varsity events throughout the Northwest. While getting his degree in Finance, John taught the college golf classes each fall and spring. He started his career in golf as an Assistant Professional at Eagle Bend Golf Club in Bigfork, Montana. He received the majority of his golf teaching experience during his three years at The Biltmore Golf Club in Coral Gables, Florida. Coming to Colorado, he worked as the 1st Assistant at Gleneagle Golf Club. This was followed by two years as the teaching pro at Silver Spruce Golf Club on Peterson Air Force Base. Coach Krause came to CSS in 2007 after working most recently with Marketing and Sales department at The INTERNATIONAL. Coach Krause hopes to inspire the students at CSS to be the best at their game and carry that over to being the best they can be in life.

Kyle Taylor
Head Upper School Boys’ Tennis Coach
Kyle graduated from William Jewell College in Kansa City in May of 2011 with a BA in Psychology and Political Science. He played four years of tennis at William Jewell earning MVP honors three year and All-conference honors three years. He has plans to play professionally this next year, while working on his MBA at UCCS. Teaching tennis all summer at Memorial Park, Kyle took over the boys’ tennis program in 2011.

Joseph Arnold
Head Varsity Cross-Country and Middle School Girls’ Soccer Coach
Coach Arnold is a Middle and Upper School French teacher at CSS. After coaching Middle School cross-country for three years at CSS, he took over the US cross-country program. He was also the assistant Middle School girls’ soccer coach his first year at CSS and became the head coach his second year of teaching. Coach Arnold ran competitively in high school, earning various awards at meets throughout Southern California. Coach Arnold began playing competitive soccer at the age of 12 and made the varsity team his freshman year at Pacific High School in San Bernadino, California. He was also on the swim team and played goalie for the school’s water-polo team. Coach Arnold earned his B.A. in French at Southern Utah University, and M.A. in Education at the University of Phoenix. Coach Arnold continues teaching, coaching and competing and is excited about the opportunities students have at CSS.

Kelly Walker
Head Middle School Cross-Country Coach
Coach Walker started coaching at CSS in 2009. She is well known around CSS for her sports photography; check out Studio Imago. She graduated from UCCS with a degree in Communications. At UCCS, she also competed in cross-country, where she was named RMAC all-conference.

Will Biedermann
Strength and Conditioning Coach and Landsharks Cross-Country and Track Coach
Will began teaching Physical Education at CSS in 1988. During that time Will has coached volleyball, lacrosse and soccer in the Middle School. Will was a three-sport athlete in high school where he ran track and cross-country and wrestled. He won multiple conference titles in track and was the State Indoor Track and Field Champion in the pole vault. In college, Will earned conference titles in Track and Field while qualifying for the National Championships. Gymnastics and outdoor sports have always been a passion for Mr. B. He also holds an ASEP coaching certification, is Wilderness First Responder Certified and a trained bicycle mechanic.

Myles Johnson
Head Upper and Middle School Boys’ Basketball Coach
Coach Johnson grew up in Kit Carson, CO where he played basketball, football and track all four years of high school. In his sophomore year, he was part of the basketball State Championship team. Myles then attended Colorado College playing two years of basketball there before beginning his focus on teaching and coaching. He graduated with a B.A. in History/Social Science and earned his Colorado teaching certificate/license. He served as assistant coach for Middle and Upper School basketball at CSS 2008-2010 and assumed the head coaching positions for Middle and Upper School boys’ basketball in the fall of 2010. Myles brings great intensity and focus to the game emphasizing the fundamentals.

Venita Ames
Head Upper School Girls’ Basketball Coach
Coach Ames grew up in Roy, New Mexico where she began playing basketball as a youngster. She helped lead her team to the New Mexico State Championship and an undefeated 29-0 record in 1994. She was New Mexico all-state in 1994, 1995 and 1996. In 1996, she was MVP of the State all-star game. Coach Ames played college basketball at Oklahoma Panhandle State from 1996-98 and finished her playing career at USC Pueblo. She graduated in April of 2000 with a B.S. in Mass Communications and a minor in Recreation. She worked as assistant coach at Fountain Valley School in 2005 and was the varsity girls’ head coach at Pikes Peak Christian from 2006-2008. In 2009, she coached middle school basketball at University Prep and then coached grade school basketball in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. She is married to Russ and has two children, Savannah and Carson.

Vicki Vaughan
Head Middle School Girls’ Basketball, 5/6th Girls’ Basketball Coach, Assistant Cross-Country Coach
Coach Vaughan has facilitated basketball camps for more than 20 years. Prior to joining the Kodiaks, she was an assistant coach with the Air Force Academy women's basketball program where she helped coordinate the Falcons' summer basketball camps. Before moving to Colorado, Coach Vaughan served seven years as a head coach at Lincoln College in Illinois where her teams gained national NJCAA recognition and she coached several All-Americans. She was the first American woman to coach professional basketball in Ireland, where her Blarney team won four titles and she was named Coach of the Year. Coach Vaughan competed in basketball at Illinois State University, a Division I program, where she captained a team that reached post-season play all four seasons. Her strengths as a coach include emphasizing fundamentals, defense, and shooting technique. In 2006, she was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Coach Vaughan has coached basketball at CSS at since 2001. During that time, she also served as the assistant boys’ tennis coach for four years and has coached 5/6th girls’ basketball since 2004. Coach Vaughan is also a physical education teacher at CSS.

Brian Ford
Head Upper School Girls’ Tennis Coach
Coach Ford started coaching at CSS in 2009, and brings loads of coaching and tennis experience to the tennis team. He played Division One tennis at Sacramento State, where he graduated with a B.A. in Recreational Management. Coach Ford continued playing tennis, coaching tennis, and working tennis camps until he moved to Colorado to work in the real estate business. He now is the Head Professional at the Memorial Park Tennis Center in Colorado Springs.

Roger Tucker
Head Middle School Boys’ Lacrosse Coach
Coach Tucker has been a Middle School science teacher at CSS since 1997, and has coached Middle School boys’ lacrosse since 2000. Coach Tucker also coached the varsity boys’ lacrosse program for several years with highlights occuring in 2008 and 2009 as he led the team to top seasons capping it off with 12 win season in 2009. Coach Tucker led the 8th grade team to five consecutive winning seasons, competing against schools and clubs in the Denver and Colorado Springs area. Coach Tucker also leads the acclaimed 8th grade Walkabout seminar at CSS.

Assistant Coaches

Jim Morley
Upper School Assistant Girls’ Volleyball Coach
Jim has been coaching since 1984. He was the Head baseball coach at St. Mary’s from 1984-1987 and has been coaching in youth leagues for boys and girls in baseball, basketball, football, hockey and volleyball for the past 15 years. Not only has he coached, but he played high school football, basketball, wrestling and baseball. He continued playing baseball in college where they won the National Championship his sophomore year and where he was voted MVP of the tournament. He was then drafted and signed by the San Francisco Giants. He continues his love of coaching and athletics at CSS (2011) where he has four children attending.

Misti Johnston
Upper School Assistant Girls' Volleyball Coach
After a stint away from teaching and coaching at Manitou Springs, Misti began teaching math in the CSS Middle School in the fall of 2010. This year (2011), Misti is now taking on coaching again at CSS (2011). Her volleyball coaching experience includes 2 years of coaching 3rd and 4th graders, 4 years of coaching freshman volleyball at Manitou Springs and 1 year of coaching club volleyball. She played high school volleyball and has enjoyed 10 years of watching her oldest daughter play volleyball. Coach Johnston is excited to know high school students outside of the classroom and helping them to learn and love the game of volleyball. Misti has four children attending CSS.

Jen Hedden
Assistant Upper School Girls’ Volleyball Coach
Coach Hedden has been a math teacher at CSS since 1998, 8 years with the Middle School and since 2005 in the Upper School. She began coaching volleyball at CSS serving as the varsity head coach for 2 years and as the assistant for 5 years. During this time, Coach Hedden also coached club volleyball for 3 years and worked with the 5th/6th grade volleyball team. Taking a break from coaching to complete her Master’s in Math, Coach Hedden returned to coach again for CSS in 2010.

Ashley Cross '02
Assistant Middle School Girls’ Volleyball Coach
Ashley was a 3-sport athlete at CSS , playing volleyball, basketball and tennis throughout Middle and Upper School at CSS. She graduated in 2002 and went to Denver University where she earned her B.A. in Psychology. In 2011 she received her Juris Doctorate from the Thomas Cooley Law School in Michigan. She is now working in a local law firm and in her first year of coaching at CSS (2011).

Bernie Jackson
Assistant Middle School Boys’ Soccer Coach
Bernie first saw boys playing soccer while living in Madrid, Spain at age five. Upon returning to the states, he played organized soccer continuously from ages seven to seventeen, starting out at midfield, then playing defense, and finishing up as an aggressive goalkeeper. After high school, he played some intramural soccer in college and later played in an adult soccer league. Bernie joins the CSS coaching staff in 2011 and is enjoying the opportunity to share his favorite sport with young people. Bernie has three children attending CSS.

Randy Wilson
Assistant Upper School Boys’ Basketball Coach
Coach Wilson is from Kit Carson, CO where he played football, basketball, and baseball. Randy was all-state in football and basketball his junior and senior years. In 2004 he was a member of the state championship basketball team as well as the 1A player of the year in Colorado. Coach Wilson graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a B.S. in Sports and Exercise Science and a minor in Coaching. He is currently working as an exercise specialist for an outpatient physical therapy clinic in Colorado Springs.

Dick Mosbach
Assistant Upper School Boys’ Basketball Coach
Coach Mosbach has been a volunteer assistant basketball coach at CSS since 2005. His playing experience includes two Iowa high school state tournament teams, two years at the United States Air Force Academy, as well as several years of Air Force base level basketball teams. Prior to coaching at CSS, Dick coached for the Colorado Springs Stars Club team, YMCA youth programs, and the Christian School Athletic League. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Air Force Academy and a Master of Science degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Dick served 27 years in the USAF, supporting Air Force and National space programs. He retired in 1994 with the rank of Colonel.

Roxanne Dale
Assistant Upper School Girls’ Basketball Coach
Roxanne has been coaching basketball for 30+ years and the Division I, II, III and Junior college levels. Her collegiate coaching stints include Slippery Rock University, Garrett Community College, University of Maryland/College Park, Wellesley College (head coach for 11 years) and Colorado College (head coach 5 years). Most recently, she served as an assistant coach at Manitou Springs High School for two years before joining the CSS coaching staff in 2010-11. She is also involved coaching the Colorado Springs STARS basketball program, which is the premiere club program in the area offering the opportunity for high school girls and boys to compete at the state, regional and national level.

Corey Cross '05
Middle School Boys’ Basketball and Lacrosse and assistant US boys’ Tennis Coach
Corey is a graduate of CSS (Class of 2005) and then went on to the University of Denver where he graduated in 2009 majoring in International Business and Economics. At CSS, Corey was a 3-sport letterman, playing tennis, basketball and lacrosse. He began coaching basketball at CSS in the Fall of 2010 and lacrosse in the spring of 2011. In the fall of 2011, he will begin coaching tennis. He is currently working in a law office in Colorado Springs.

Kevan Pimentel '05
Junior Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse Coach
Kevan is a graduate of CSS (Class of 2005). Kevan was a 3-sport athlete at CSS, competing in tennis, basketball and lacrosse. He continued playing lacrosse in college at St. John’s University in NewYork and then at CSU in Fort Collins. In 2009, Kevan received his B.A. in Communications Media and History from CSU. He now works as an IT coordinator at McDivitt Law Firm. He began coaching lacrosse at CSS in the spring of 2010.

Corey Jewell
Assistant Upper School Boys’ Soccer Coach
Coach Jewell started coaching soccer at CSS in 2009. He grew up in Maine playing soccer on his high school team and then playing at the collegiate level for two years. Coach Jewell graduated from college with a B.A. and M.A. of Divinity in Biblical Studies. He has worked for T. Rowe Price, Inc., the past eight years and is now working on his pre-med degree at UCCS.