Football Notes: Hansell resigns as manager Weston McEwen

Kenzie Hansell compiled a 75-35 record in two stints as 2A Weston McEwen's football coach. (Photo courtesy of Robert MacLean)

kenzie hansellcoached weston mcueen He resigned from his position after reaching the 2A football finals the past two seasons.

Hansell said he resigned to have more time to monitor his daughters' activities. charlotte, Eloise and Cola, 9th grade, 6th grade, and 3rd grade, respectively. They compete in volleyball, basketball, track and field, and participate in 4-H and FFA.

“There's never a good time, but given the age of my daughters, now is the time,” Hansell said. “I get to be in the stands and watch my daughters' sporting events. I can't thank my wife and kids enough for allowing me to pursue my dream of coaching. It's a dream come true. did.”

Hansell served as receiver. hermiston He also coached the Tiger-Scotts twice at Washington State University. He went 43-27 from 2008-2013, returned in 2020 and went 32-8 over the past four seasons.

He said he first resigned because his wife, Emily, was pregnant with their third daughter. When he returned to the team, his daughters came to help.

“They were with me at practice, on the bus, at games: ball girls, tee girls, water girls,” he said. “Right now, they’re active, so I need to be there.”

Weston McEwen came close to winning its first state championship the past two seasons, but lost in the state finals. auckland 46 wins, 32 losses in 2022, lowell 74 wins, 42 losses in 2023. The last time the Tiger Scots appeared in the state championship game was in 1996.

“Obviously I wanted to win both, but it was pure joy for the program to accomplish,” Hansell said.

Hansell, who works on the farm with his two brothers, has enjoyed seeing the community rally around the team.

“When you get off the bus at a road game and there’s more people than the home team, you instantly get a smile on your face,” he said. “It's special and it always will be.

“During the fall, if you walk downtown or go to lunch, everyone is talking about football. And on Friday nights, everyone comes to watch the football games.”

Hansell, an assistant coach, said: casey perkins and morgan dunlap He plans to remain as a staff member. However, Hansel's younger brother LukeThe defensive coordinator will now be leaving the program.

“It was a dream come true to be able to coach with my brother,” Hansell said. “He has nieces and nephews who also want to be there and cheer. I'm proud to have coached with him. We share a driveway. We have 24 We talk about soccer 365 days a year. It was pure joy.”

Hansel left the door open for him to return to the coach.

“I'm not going to throw away my playbook,” he said. “I throw away the bad plays. There are a few like that.”

He said he intended to attend the Weston vs. McEwen game.

“I'm excited about Weston McEwen's continued presence,” he said. “We will do whatever we can to help the new head coach.”

Hansell said he intends to continue the relationships he has established with his players, just as he has maintained connections with his high school basketball coaches. mike doherty.

“He still calls me on my birthday,” Hansell said.

change clothes with henry

henryThe team, which won its first state title in 41 years last season, has a new coach. alex stoke Resigns as coach and is replaced as assistant matte green.

Stoke is 50-19 in seven seasons, including a 13-0 mark in 2023 when the Hornets lost. marist catholic 42-28 in the 4A final. He resigned after his wife left to spend more time with his family. MakenaShe gave birth to her first child in December.

henry athletic director luke hammond told the Herald and News that Stoke's departure was “certainly a surprise” but that the program remains firmly aligned with Green, who has been his assistant for the past six seasons.

“He understands the program and understands the culture at Henry,” Hammond said. “He is a Henryite and supports all of our athletic programs. He will be able to continue the program on the trajectory of the past few years.”

Stork told the Herald and News that Green “will do a great job.”

“He has put in a lot of hard work on and off the field and has continued to grow as a coach,” Stork said. “He always focused on building relationships with his kids, which is why we knew he was the right person for the position.”

Green said the program has good prospects for continued success.

“We have some good kids coming back,” Green told the Herald and News. “The senior class we had was great leaders and set a great standard for us to live up to. … We're going to be the same old Henry team we've always had.”

Tigard hires Crist

Tigard The head coach's vacancy was filled with an assistant. tod christ.

The Tigers played under an interim coach last season. Ken Feist, led the team to a record of 5 wins and 6 losses.Mr. Feist subsequently held the position. John Kemper He resigned and was named Texas' coach.

Crist, a California native, played at Linfield. He worked as a substitute teacher in the Tigard area and coached his youth through high school football programs for 17 years. His two sons played for the Tigers.

Crist told Pamplin Media Group that he was “pinch myself” after being hired.

“I can't believe I'm truly the leader of the Tigard Football Championship program,” he said. “That's our championship program and we're going to get back to being champions.”

Tigard has won at least 10 games eight times in nine seasons and is 16-20 over the past four years.