COACHES

Sean Kern - Head Coach

sean.kern@minnetonkaschools.org

Coach Kern coaches to make young people become responsible people of integrity that can overcome obstacles and excel in every area of their lives.

He has been coaching high school athletes for over ten years. Bringing an extensive knowledge of effective training plan development and technical instruction, he is excited to help athletes discover their potential. Coach Kern also teaches English at Minnetonka High School.

In his free time, he is a competitive Nordic ski racer. He also enjoys spending as much time outside as possible with his wife Kailey, daughter Marlo, and dog Porter.

Ed Atwood

Coach Atwood is dedicated to guiding young athletes in discovering their best and fostering a lifelong love for the sport. In addition to coaching for Minnetonka Nordic for the last 8 years, he has been involved in coaching and training young athletes for over 40 years as a member of Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) where he holds a Level III certification. Over the last 18 years, he has been involved in the ski industry as a master boot fitter, product tester, and waxing technician. In addition, he has served on several education staffs responsible for developing training curriculum for young athletes.

For his professional job, he currently works in corporate training responsible for designing, developing and delivering training to adults.

He is honored to work with such a talented coaching staff and loves helping every member of TNR team achieve their goals and enjoy the sport.

Lauren Dahl

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Erik Paulsen

This is Erik’s first year coaching Nordic Skiing after competing in endurance events for over 25 years. He has enjoyed trail races and mountain bike events in the summer as well as competing in the Birkie every winter since 1997. He started Nordic ski racing in college at the University of Minnesota. Erik is an Arborist for a local tree care company and has trained young climbers in how to work safely in all types of weather. He lives in Excelsior with his wife Jen, daughter Ella and Trouble, their dog. The main motivator for getting into coaching was to give back to a sport that has given him so much. He believes that the discipline and hard work involved with becoming a great Nordic skier translates to so many things in life and sets up kids with the tools they need to have happy healthy lives. He is excited to help kids of all levels reach their potential with skiing and life.

Tim Reese

Coach Reese has been Nordic ski racing since 1984 competing at Mounds View High School and at Saint Olaf College. He assistant coached at MMW in 2015-2016 and head coached at St Paul Harding in 1993. If you have been to Gale Woods, you may also know him as Farmer Tim. He is dedicated to helping people learn to love the sport of cross-country skiing and enjoy being outside in the winter. As a classic technique specialist, he looks forward to helping TNR skiers learn to kick and glide. He continues to do the Birkie most years in pursuit of his Birch Leggings.

Andrew Frink

Coach Frink has been skiing basically since he could walk. He joined the White Bear Lake Nordic racing team in 7th grade for the 98/99 school year and qualified for the state races his senior year in 2003. Since then he has been nordic skiing and road biking for recreation and general fitness.

He is a mechanical engineer working for an HVAC OEM, developing new products, selection tools, and supporting special projects.

The main motivator for getting into coaching is getting to help young athletes learn the discipline and hard work needed to succeed in their goals. As well as to learn to control the things they can and how to recognize and deal with those they can't.

Leah Malec

Coach Malec started nordic skiing during her junior year at Hopkins High School and has loved the sport ever since. She skied the Birkie three times when she was in college and nowadays enjoys skiing recreationally with her husband and three kids.

She is a high school Spanish teacher at Breck and has coached their nordic team on and off throughout the past ten years. She is also one of the head coaches for the Minnetonka Mountain Bike Team.

She is looking forward to working with the TNR team this year and is excited to pass her love of nordic onto others.