Vince Varpness

Coach Varpness has been coaching in Burnsville since 2015 and brings a vast amount of experience with him to Burnsville. Some previous coaching positions include head football coach, and offensive coordinator at the high school and college level along with experience in the Big 10 conference at MN under Coach Glen Mason. This well-rounded coaching background includes coaching a variety of positions on both sides of the ball including QB, WR, RB, LB, DB and Special Teams.

Varpness also has an extensive recruiting background, recruiting the states of FL, OH, MI, KY and TX - some of the richest football talent states in the country. Levels coached include: high school, Jr. College (MCCC), DIII (MIAC) and DI (Big Ten).

Varpness’s playing experience includes being a 2 yr/2 way starter at WR and DB at Worthington Senior High School. In college, at MN West he was a 1st Team All-Conference Strong Safety, 1st Team All-State, 1st Team Region XIII, Academic All-State and played in the 1997 JR. College All-American Bowl. He then went on to play at Bemidji State University (DII NSIC) where he won the "Kamikaze" (Big Hit) award several times and was the Special Teams MVP his senior year.

“Coach V” has been a part of turning around 4 teams from losing to winning programs: at MN West (10-1 season/back-to-back Conference Championships and back to back State Championship appearances) Bemidji State University (the school’s first winning season in 11 years), the University of Minnesota Gophers (3 bowl games in 4 seasons) and here at Burnsville when the team went to State in 2015. He enjoys and embraces the challenge and daily grind of constant improvement and development in all areas of a football program.

Vince has a Physical Education/Health teaching license from Bemidji State University and received his Master’s Degree in Applied Kinesiology from the University of MN in the spring of 2002. He teaches Physical Education and Health courses here at the high school.

Coach Varp isn’t the first “Coach Varp” in the family. His father Don Varpness served as a head football coach for over 30 years at the high school and college level. Don was President of the MN Football Coaches Association in the early 70’s and helped set up the state’s first football playoff system while serving as Chairman of the Board. Don is a member of 4 Football Hall of Fames and is a graduate of Bemidji State University. He passed away in 2007, but Vince’s mom (Audrey), a lifelong football fan, can still be spotted at football games cheering enthusiastically for her teams.

Varpness lives in Richfield, MN with his wife Kristen (English teacher at Bloomington Jefferson High School), his son Jack T.D. Varpness (9) as well as their pets Moxie, Jersey and Loki.