Meet the Hopkins Varsity Football Coaches
[ Youth Program,
Grade levels 4
through 8 ]
Grade levels 4
through 8 ]
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
John DenHartog (Head Coach/O-Coordinator): 2010 marks Coach Den Hartog's ("Coach D") 7th season at the helm
for Hopkins High School. Under his guidance, the Royals won the 2006 Section 6AAAAA Championship and advanced to
the state tournament for only the second time in school history. The 2008 team went 8-3 (best record since 1999) and
advanced to the 6AAAAA Final. Under his guidance, past HHS teams have also won playoff games and advanced to the
section semi-finals on three other occasions. Before coming to Hopkins, Coach D served as head coach at Waterloo
West (IA) HS and Independence (IA) HS, as well as an assistant coach at Tulsa Webster (OK) HS. Coach D played
college football at Luther College in Decorah, IA where he still holds several records in both football and baseball. Along
with coaching, Coach D also works as a special education teacher at HHS. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in Hopkins
and have three children in the Hopkins schools.
Kirby Dorothy (D-Coordinator/Linebackers): Coach Dorothy returns in 2010 for his 4th season with the Hopkins
varsity. 2010 will be Kirby's first as a coordinator, but he is more than ready for the challenge having coached the
Royals defensive backs for the previous 3 seasons. Kirby is also a long-time Hopkins Football League youth football
coach and still works closely with the program. Kirby grew up in the suburbs of Seattle and developed a passion for
football while playing linebacker at Rogers High School. He graduated from the University of Oregon before moving to
Minnesota. Kirby works in the special ed department at Hopkins HS and lives in the area with his wife and two children.
Nick Abel (Offensive Line): 2010 is Coach Abel's 6th season with the Hopkins varsity. Before coming to Hopkins, Nick
coached the varsity O-Line for four seasons at Waterloo West (IA) HS, where he also worked with Coach DenHartog.
Nick was an all-conference and all-metro lineman at Pleasant Valley HS in Iowa and also played one year of college
football at Luther College in Decorah, IA. He currently works as a counselor at HHS, and lives in Maple Grove with his
wife, Minori, and daughter, Nina.
Edwards Burns (Defensive Line): 2010 was Coach Burns's 6th season with the Hopkins varsity. He previously
coached high school football at a number of places around Minnesota, including Minneapolis and Mankato. A star
linebacker in high school, Edwards went on to play college football at the University of Minnesota, where he led the team
in tackles his senior year. He currently works in the special education department at Hopkins High School and also
spends many hours guiding student-athletes through workouts in the weight room.
Blake Freese (Defensive Backs): Coach Freese joins the varsity staff in 2010 as defensive backs coach. Blake has
an extensive football background, which began at Eden Prairie High School and included stops at Minnesota
State-Mankato, the Minnesota Vikings, the New Orleans Saints, and the La Crosse Spartans (Indoor Football League).
His fiery demeanor and extensive knowledge of football is sure to help the Hopkins defense.
Ryan Ferrin (Assistant QB's, RB's, WR's): Coach Ferrin is also a new addition to the varsity staff for 2010. He has
previously coached in Fort Collins, CO and at Minnetonka, and had a successful high school career as a QB. He has a
solid knowledge of the spread offense and is looking forward to contributing to the success of the offense.
Adam Hollerud (Assistant OL): Coach Hollerud is also a new addition to the varsity staff for 2010. A Hopkins alum,
Adam played O-Line for the Royals under legendary Coach Paul Bengston and then continued his football career at the
University of Minnesota-Duluth. Adam is looking forward to working with Coach Abel to continue the strong tradition of
O-Line play at Hopkins.
for Hopkins High School. Under his guidance, the Royals won the 2006 Section 6AAAAA Championship and advanced to
the state tournament for only the second time in school history. The 2008 team went 8-3 (best record since 1999) and
advanced to the 6AAAAA Final. Under his guidance, past HHS teams have also won playoff games and advanced to the
section semi-finals on three other occasions. Before coming to Hopkins, Coach D served as head coach at Waterloo
West (IA) HS and Independence (IA) HS, as well as an assistant coach at Tulsa Webster (OK) HS. Coach D played
college football at Luther College in Decorah, IA where he still holds several records in both football and baseball. Along
with coaching, Coach D also works as a special education teacher at HHS. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in Hopkins
and have three children in the Hopkins schools.
Kirby Dorothy (D-Coordinator/Linebackers): Coach Dorothy returns in 2010 for his 4th season with the Hopkins
varsity. 2010 will be Kirby's first as a coordinator, but he is more than ready for the challenge having coached the
Royals defensive backs for the previous 3 seasons. Kirby is also a long-time Hopkins Football League youth football
coach and still works closely with the program. Kirby grew up in the suburbs of Seattle and developed a passion for
football while playing linebacker at Rogers High School. He graduated from the University of Oregon before moving to
Minnesota. Kirby works in the special ed department at Hopkins HS and lives in the area with his wife and two children.
Nick Abel (Offensive Line): 2010 is Coach Abel's 6th season with the Hopkins varsity. Before coming to Hopkins, Nick
coached the varsity O-Line for four seasons at Waterloo West (IA) HS, where he also worked with Coach DenHartog.
Nick was an all-conference and all-metro lineman at Pleasant Valley HS in Iowa and also played one year of college
football at Luther College in Decorah, IA. He currently works as a counselor at HHS, and lives in Maple Grove with his
wife, Minori, and daughter, Nina.
Edwards Burns (Defensive Line): 2010 was Coach Burns's 6th season with the Hopkins varsity. He previously
coached high school football at a number of places around Minnesota, including Minneapolis and Mankato. A star
linebacker in high school, Edwards went on to play college football at the University of Minnesota, where he led the team
in tackles his senior year. He currently works in the special education department at Hopkins High School and also
spends many hours guiding student-athletes through workouts in the weight room.
Blake Freese (Defensive Backs): Coach Freese joins the varsity staff in 2010 as defensive backs coach. Blake has
an extensive football background, which began at Eden Prairie High School and included stops at Minnesota
State-Mankato, the Minnesota Vikings, the New Orleans Saints, and the La Crosse Spartans (Indoor Football League).
His fiery demeanor and extensive knowledge of football is sure to help the Hopkins defense.
Ryan Ferrin (Assistant QB's, RB's, WR's): Coach Ferrin is also a new addition to the varsity staff for 2010. He has
previously coached in Fort Collins, CO and at Minnetonka, and had a successful high school career as a QB. He has a
solid knowledge of the spread offense and is looking forward to contributing to the success of the offense.
Adam Hollerud (Assistant OL): Coach Hollerud is also a new addition to the varsity staff for 2010. A Hopkins alum,
Adam played O-Line for the Royals under legendary Coach Paul Bengston and then continued his football career at the
University of Minnesota-Duluth. Adam is looking forward to working with Coach Abel to continue the strong tradition of
O-Line play at Hopkins.