Athletics Staff

List of 11 items.

• Don Collins, Director of Athletics, Head Coach Boys Lacrosse

  Coach Collins was born and raised in San Diego. In high school, he played both varsity football and lacrosse, and went on to play lacrosse at Sonoma State University, where he earned his B.A. in Communications in 2002. During the summer of 2015, he earned a Master’s Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University. Since joining Pacific Ridge in 2008, he has coached both middle school and high school sports such as flag football, basketball and lacrosse, has participated in the Service Learning and Clubs program and has served as a student advisor. Coach Collins served as the boys varsity lacrosse head coach from 2015-2018 and as an assistant coach from 2010-2014 He was named CIF Boys Lacrosse Coach of the Year in 2015. As an administrator, he has held the title of Athletics Coordinator, Athletics Operations and Facilities Administrator, Assistant Director of Athletics and now Interim Director of Athletics. Coach Collins lives in San Marcos with his wife, Nicole, his son Michael “MJ” and his daughter Catherine. He enjoys a good round of golf, spending time outdoors and relaxing with family and friends.

• Jed Stotsenberg, Assistant Director of Athletics, Head Coach Boys Varsity Volleyball, Girls Varsity Volleyball

  Jed joins PRS in 2017 as Interim Assistant Director of Athletics and Varsity Head Boys’ Volleyball coach. He currently is also the Director of Boys’ Volleyball/Coach at WAVE Volleyball Club and brings over 20 years of coaching experience at the high school, club, college, professional and international levels. A few coaching highlights for Jed are 2013, 2014, 2015 CIF Championships with La Costa Canyon HS Boys’ Volleyball, 2014 14U GJNC Open Qualifier, 2015 BJNC 16U Club Gold Medal, 2016 BJNC 15U Open 5^th place (WAVE), 2009 AVP Manhattan Beach Finalist coaching Matt Olson and Kevin Wong, 2010 and 2011 San Diego City College Men’s Volleyball 2 best seasons in program history. Coaching is Jed’s passion and he loves seeing players develop through volleyball into outstanding individuals on and off the court through good work, the challenges of competition, time management of being a student-athlete, the comradery of their team and striving for excellence.

  Jed’s playing experience started in his hometown of Kirkland, Washington. As a club player he won two state and regional championships. After high school he moved to San Diego to attend college and play volleyball. He set for Mesa College his freshman year and was the setter/team captain at Grossmont College his sophomore year. He was recruited to San Diego State University and played 2 seasons for the Aztecs. Jed finished his stint at SDSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing in 2001. After college he signed professional contracts with Division 1 VC Bottrop 90 in Germany as a Libero and in his second season with Nati League A Kanti Baden in Switzerland as a Setter. On the beach Jed earned a AAA CBVA rating, played in AVP Qualifiers and competed in a few international tournaments. When not in the gym Jed can be found spending time with his wife Kristen and son Noa, surfing local breaks in North San Diego and playing beach volleyball.

• Chris Burman, Head Coach Boys Basketball

  Coach Burman has coached high school basketball for the past ten years, spending his early coaching years at Washington High School and the Athenian School in Danville, CA. He is entering his fourth year coaching basketball at Pacific Ridge, his third as head coach of the boys basketball program. Coach Burman's teams have won 39 games over the past two seasons and in 2015 finished 22-7, winning the San Diego Division IV CIF championship and earning the team's first trip to the state playoffs. 

   

  Coach Burman grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area playing a combination of football, basketball, baseball, and soccer through high school. He is passionate about sports and always knew he wanted to coach high school basketball. Coach Burman strives to build a program where committed students-athletes learn to play with passion, work as a team, and have a fun experience.

   

  In addition to his duties as head basketball coach, Coach Burman is also a full-time Spanish teacher at Pacific Ridge with 17 years of teaching experience. He completed a B.A. in Spanish and Biology from the University of San Diego and an M.A. in Secondary Education from San Francisco State University. Beyond PRS, Coach Burman enjoys spending time with his wife and three children and cheering for the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco Giants!

• Michael Chirgwin, Athletic Coach, Head Coach Boys Soccer Coed Golf

  Mr. Chirgwin grew up in Storrs, Connecticut, where he lettered in four varsity sports in high school. He received All State honors in soccer, and played for the Connecticut Olympic Development team for three years. He received a B.S. in Physical Education from Eastern Connecticut State University. Before coming to Pacific Ridge, Mr. Chirgwin was a full-time youth club soccer coach and a scout for the Olympic Development Program. He holds a USSF national "A" license. 

• Brooke Hartley, Head Coach Girls Soccer

  Ms. Hartley graduated from The University of Arizona with a B.A in Studio Art and Art History while playing soccer as a student athlete. Shortly after moving back to California, Ms. Hartley worked in Hollywood specializing in event design and live show production. Drawn to education and realizing the “industry” lifestyle was not for her, she began coaching soccer and substituting in various schools in San Diego. 

   

  Ms. Hartley found Pacific Ridge, where she now teaches Middle School Visual Arts and serves as the Head Coach for the Girls Varsity Soccer team.
  
  

  In her free time, Ms. Hartley enjoys DIY projects, drawing, and being outdoors. She also is an indoor cycle instructor and teaches classes throughout gyms in North County.

• Graham Elsdon, Athletic Coach, Middle School Boys Basketball, Football & Lacrosse

  Mr. Elsdon joined Pacific Ridge in 2009. He received a B.A. in History from Sonoma State University, where his lacrosse contributions earned him an induction into the university's Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He has been an athletic coach for the past ten years, including coaching boys lacrosse from the elementary to high school level. At Pacific Ridge, Mr. Elsdon teaches physical education, coaches Middle School boys flag football and basketball, and supervises the Middle School boys lacrosse program. He is an assistant coach for the boys varsity lacrosse team.

• Liza Neptune, Head Coach Girls Lacrosse

  Coach Neptune is the head coach for the girls varsity lacrosse team and an assistant coach for the girls Middle School lacrosse team. She also teaches Middle School and Upper School physical eduation. Active in the lacrosse community, Ms. Neptune has been the All-American chair for Girls High School Lacrosse in San Diego County for four years, and has acted as an annual Western Division National Team selector. She is the current President for the San Diego chapter of US Lacrosse as well as a member of the Middle School Lacrosse operating board. Ms. Neptune was was inducted into the US Lacrosse San Diego Chapter Hall of Fame and voted CIF Girls Lacrosse Coach of the Year in 2015.  
  
  A competitive open water swimmer, Ms. Neptune also coordinates an adapted aquatics swim program for disabled athletes. She received her B.A. in English from the University of Colorado.

• Melanie Silver, Athletic Trainer

  Ms. Silver is a National Athletic Trainer Association (NATA) member and Board of Certification (BOC) certified athletic trainer with B.S. degrees in Athletic Training and Kinesiology, as well as a minor in Coaching from The College at Brockport, State University of New York. During her senior year, she completed a year-long internship at Fairport High School in Fairport, NY, which solidified her passion for supporting student-athletes in the high school setting. She relocated to San Diego in 2014 and spent a year working as the head athletic trainer at La Costa Canyon High School before pursuing post-graduate studies at California State University Long Beach. Ms. Silver worked in the Garden Grove Unified School District during that time and graduated from CSULB with a M.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2017. Before joining Pacific Ridge School, Ms. Silver worked for UC San Diego Health, providing athletic training services in the San Diego Unified School District.

   

  Ms. Silver takes pride in ensuring the safety and wellness of her student-athletes, bringing an approach that encompasses the physical and mental aspects of sports participation and the injury rehabilitation process. She is proud to be a Firebird!

   

  Outside of her role at PRS, Ms. Silver enjoys live sporting events, concerts, travel, and time with her family, including her dog Gryffindor.

• Juan Trevino, Head Coach, Club Ice Hockey

  Coach Juan Trevino began playing hockey at the age of seven in the hockey hot-bed that is Metro-Detroit.  He played ACHA division I hockey at Eastern Michigan University, where he was named defensive player of the year and was selected as an ACHA all-star.  He holds undergraduate degrees in public law and government, and sociology/anthropology, as well as a graduate degree from Michigan State University in clinical social work, specializing in adolescent mental health issues. Coach Trevino will also be joining the Pacific Ridge faculty as a Student Support Specialist, focusing on the emotional and academic needs of students.  He has experience providing therapeutic services to families in a private setting while employed at Intricate Mind Institute and truly has a passion for working with young people and their families.  His clinical background gives him great insights into motivating players and facilitating teamwork. 

   

  Coach Trevino’s technical skating and hockey skill instruction is not just a product of growing up playing hockey. From 1999 to 2004, he was employed by Maximum Development and Players Edge hockey schools, where he became a tactician on the ice.  He spent two years as the head coach of the La Jolla Jaguars and transitioned to the Jr. Gulls in 2006. He has also been teaching hockey skills at clinics around San Diego for the past 12 years. Coach Trevino’s philosophy remains "perfect practice makes perfect" and his players understand that greatness is earned through hard work and dedication. 

• Sara VanderHorst, Athletic Coach, Head Coach Girls Basketball

  Ms. VanderHorst grew up in Pleasanton, California, where she played four years of high school varsity basketball and ran cross country. She received a full athletic scholarship to play basketball at the University of San Diego, where she helped lead the Toreros to a 2008 March Madness appearance. Ms. VanderHorst received a B.A. in Communications from USD, and minored in both Marketing and Leadership. Before coming to Pacific Ridge, Ms. VanderHorst coached at La Jolla Country Day School and for the Waves Basketball club program. She serves as the Girls Varsity Basketball coach, Assistant Coach for the Upper School Coed Cross Country team, and assists with several middle school sports.

• Casey Wheel, Strength & Conditioning Coach

  Coach Wheel grew up in Vermont before moving west to attend San Diego State University. After interning with the Strength and Conditioning Staff and graduating with a degree in Kinesiology, he joined Pacific Ridge as the Strength and Conditioning Coach in 2009. He worked until 2014 when he moved to Denver, CO. After five years in Denver, Coach Wheel returned to Pacific Ridge as the Strength and Conditioning Coach. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the NSCA, and a Titleist Performance Institute Level 3 Junior coach.

  
  

  Outside of coaching, Coach Wheel spends time with his wife, son Logan, and dog Bert Macklin FBI. He loves to play basketball, surf, and you can see him adding maple syrup to his coffee.