Coaches
Head coaches
Phil Nelson, High School
Coach Phil joined 196 MTB in 2021 as a ride leader when his son Ethan joined the team. Phil transitioned into the role of high school head coach for the 2023 season.
Phil uses his day job as an software engineering manager to support his mountain and gravel biking adventures. Being a coach allows him to help create community around an activity that has brought much joy to his life. He believes that every new rider has the chance to make the world just a little bit better.
When not on his bike, Coach Phil can be found spending time with his family, watching Formula 1 racing, pretending to be a race car driver in Gran Turismo, volunteering at church, or drinking coffee while reading a good dystopian novel or studying history, philosophy, and theology.
Darin Thureen, Middle School
Coach Darin brings his passion for mountain biking and a resume of over 25+ years of coaching experience to the team. Coach Darin is a USSF certified soccer coach (and referee). Darin or to keep it simple, Coach “D”, has been involved with the 196 team for over seven years, starting as a parent ride leader, an Assistant Coach, and now Head Coach of the Middle School team.
Coach Darin thrives on helping athletes improve their skills by creating a fun environment for learning and performance.
Coach Darin is an avid rider (Road and MTB) and actively involved with the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure where he captains “Team DADDEO” and leads fundraisers for the Knights of Columbus.
Assistant coaches
Ken Barringer
Coach Ken strongly believes having fun is the most important part of any sport. Having coached many sports, he has found the strongest metric of a good season is the number of athletes that return the following season. His goals for mountain biking is to help create such an enjoyable experience that riders want to come back year after year.
This is Ken’s third year with 196 MTB, and seeing his youngest loves being on the team, he is sure to be involved for many more years.
Reid Bartels
This will be Coach Reid's sixth season with 196 MTB (fourth season as Assistant Coach). Times and technology have changed considerably since Coach Reid bought his first mountain bike over thirty years ago, but riding great single track will never get old.
Some of Reid's favorite things about being a Coach on the 196 MTB team:
- Our community of amazing student athletes. More kids on bikes!
- In our sport, there is no such thing as a 'bench' and nobody gets 'cut.'
- The opportunity to work with student athletes and maybe, just maybe, play a part in helping them turn mountain biking into one of their life long passions.
Coach Reid counts himself lucky to have two daughters who also love the sport of mountain biking (still trying to convert his wife from road bike to mountain bike), and is stoked to get the band back together for the 2024 season!
Matt Bischel
Coach Matt's first experiences with the ISD 196 mountain bike team were in 2017 when his son Nick joined the team. Watching as a parent for the first two seasons was exciting, but having raced his own races ages ago, Coach Matt longed to get back on the bike. In 2019 Coach Matt became a ride leader and held that position for his son's remaining two seasons. In 2021 Matt became an Assistant Coach for the high school riders and continues in that role today. Nick and Matt continue to ride together as much as possible because it's too much fun and a great way to spend time with family and friends.
Heading into 2024, Coach Matt cannot wait to ride with the most awesome coaches, riders and families, period. The opportunity to coach for a team in the Minnesota Cycling Association is an honor for Coach Matt. No other organization provides the fun, opportunities for participation and positive experiences that MCA and mountain biking offer.
Alesia Smith
With over two decades of experience as a figure skating coach and 15 years on the trails, I have cultivated a deep love and understanding of athletic development and outdoor adventure. I bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to the sport of mountain biking.
Drawing from my extensive background in figure skating and outdoor pursuits, I bring a unique blend of expertise to coaching. I believe in embracing falls and failures as opportunities for growth that not only build individual riders but also foster a culture of perseverance and determination within the team. By instilling these values alongside technical skills, discipline, and teamwork, you are not just shaping athletes, you are shaping individuals who are resilient both on and off the trail.
Whether you are a seasoned rider or new to the sport, I am here to support and inspire you on your mountain biking journey. Together, we will conquer trails, overcome obstacles, and create lasting memories in the great outdoors.
