Griffin Coaching Staff

Head Coach Sterling Edwards

Coaches: Quarterbacks/Offensive Coordinator
Years at Winnetonka: 4th
Record at Winnetonka: 17-16 (.515)

In 2010, Coach Sterling Edwards was named as the fifth head coach at Winnetonka High School. Edwards came to Winnetonka after five seasons at Blue Springs High School where he coached the offensive line. During the last four seasons, Blue Springs finished ranked no lower than fifth in the state in the final polls, culminating with a runner-up finish in the 2009 Class 6 State Championship game in St. Louis. In the classroom, Edwards is a member of the mathematics department and teaches Algebra 1 classes.

Originally from Excelsior Springs, MO, Coach Edwards spent eight years teaching and as an assistant coach at Excelsior Springs High School under head coach Jeff Rich. The last three years at ESHS, Edwards was the offensive coordinator of the Tigers.

Edwards attended the University of Missouri and University of Central Missouri, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1997. In 2008 he received his master’s degree in Athletic Administration from William Woods University.

Coach Edwards would be nothing without his wife of sixteen years, Mendy. She is also from Excelsior Springs. Mendy teaches at Lee's Summit West High School where she is an assistant volleyball coach for the Titans. The Edwards’ have 2 children, a beautiful 10 year old daughter, Landry (who is named after the legendary coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry), and Dawson, a future Griffin Offensive Lineman, who is 5 (he is named after Chiefs Hall of Fame Quarterback, Len Dawson).

Coach Edwards' parents are Ralph and Joan Edwards of Liberty, MO. Ralph is a member of the Winnetonka coaching staff and coaches wide receivers. Ralph has been a major influence on his son's coaching career. Sterling is very excited to be coaching with his father.

Coach Edwards is enjoying being a part of the Winnetonka High School family. He feels extremely fortunate to be surrounded by a lot of great coaches and players who share a strong passion for the program. He would like to thank the parents for their support and sacrifices of the team. Coach Edwards and the staff are looking forward to establishing a program that you are proud of on and off the field.

Coach Tony Perkins

Coaches: Outside Linebackers/Defensive Coordinator
Years at Winnetonka: 9th
Bio Needs updated for 2013

Tony Perkins was born in southern Illinois. He grew up in North Kansas City, where he attended Linden East, Linden West and West Englewood Elementary Schools and New Mark Middle School. While attending high school at Oak Park and Kearney, he participated in a number of school activities, including football, wrestling, baseball and track. Perkins graduated from Kearney High School in 1979.

Perkins earned his Bachelor of Science in Education (1983) from Missouri Valley College , where he was captain of the football team and a two-time NAIA (HAAC) All-Conference football player. He earned his Masters of Science in Education Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1995.

The 2009-10 school year marks Mr. Perkins’ 29th year as an educator and coach. His career in education includes teaching elementary, junior high and high school physical education and health, junior high math and high school drivers’ education. His coaching career encompasses positions as the head football, track and baseball coach in various high schools and colleges throughout Missouri . Perkins has also served in various coordinator and assistant capacities in high school and college football, both in Kansas and Missouri.

Mr. Perkins is the father of four sons.

Coach Joe Stamps

Coaches: Inside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator
Years at Winnetonka: 6th
Bio Needs updated for 2013

Coach Stamps was born in Kansas City and also grew up in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. He is a graduate of Winnetonka (2003) and is a graduate of Missouri Western State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Health with a minor in Spanish.

Stamps is looking forward to his fourth year of teaching and coaching. His athletic experience began at Winnetonka where he participated in football, basketball, and track all four years and was an All Conference, All Metro, and All District linebacker for the Griffins. He was also a member of the Missouri All Star team. He continued on to the collegiate level where he was a linebacker for Missouri Western State University.

Coach Stamps lives in Liberty with his beautiful wife Kelly and his one year old daughter Ava. They are excited to announce that they are expecting another member to their family in September, a boy.

Coach Jared Barge

Coaches: Defensive Line
Years at Winnetonka: 3rd
Bio Needs updated for 2013

Coach Jared Barge is joined Tonka Football Staff in 2011 after spending the previous 3 years as the Offensive Line Coach and Offensive Coordinator at Oak Grove High School. Prior to coaching at Oak Grove, Coach Barge coached the Offensive Line at Blue Springs High School for 7 years where he was lucky to be a part of 2 State Championship teams. Coach Barge coaches the Griffin Defensive Line. The greatest influences in Coach Barge’s life have been teachers and coaches who played significant roles in helping him become the person he is today. He hopes to have the same impact on the players and students he coaches and teaches throughout his career.

Coach Barge played college football at the University of Missouri and Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. After his redshirt year as a Tiger, Coach Barge decided to transfer to Washburn University where he was a 4 year starter on the Offensive Line, two of those years he was All-MIAA and one year he was a College Football Gazette All-American. Coach Barge was honored to be one of the Team Captains on the 2000 Ichabods squad and loved every minute of having the opportunity to play the sport that he loves in college. Coach Barge spent his high school years playing offensive line at Blue Springs High School where he was apart of 4 playoff teams and one of those being a State Championship team. He also threw the shot put and discus while at Blue Springs, where he was a part of 1 State Championship track team.

Coach Barge is very thrilled to be teaching in the Social Studies Department at Winnetonka High School. He has a passion for history and loves teaching all aspects of social studies. He finished his Master’s in the Arts of Teaching this summer at the University of Central Missouri and will be starting his Specialist Degree this fall. One day after his coaching career is over Coach Barge hopes to be an Athletic Director or High School Administrator.

Outside of coaching and teaching, Coach Barge spends as much time possible with his family, wife Janelle and daughter Abbi 4 years old. They enjoy spending time together doing anything outdoors: golfing, hiking, biking, camping, hunting, fishing, and going to the lake, just to name a few. Coach Barge is very lucky to have a very large and supportive family who loves athletics and loves to attend games on Friday nights and support the team. He looks forward to seeing his family sporting the Red and Gold in the stands on Friday nights and celebrating Tonka Football’s success in the coming years.

Coach Ken Davis

Coaches: Defensive Secondary
Years at Winnetonka: 6th
Bio Needs updated for 2013

Ken Davis is in his second season with the Griffins. Last yr working only with the secondary, this season Ken will continue to coach the secondary but also coach the wide receivers.

Ken graduated from Klein Oak High School in Spring, Texas where he lettered in football and track. After high school Davis continued his education at Southwest Baptist University where he received a Bachelor Degree in Communications. He was a four year letterman and MIAA Conference Honorable Mention cornerback.

After college football Ken went on to play in the Arena Football League for 2 seasons with the San Angelo Stampede and Corpus Christi Hammerheads.

He has been married to his wife, Jennifer, for 2 years and they have a beautiful daughter, Karissa.

Coach Ralph Edwards

Coaches: Wide Receivers
Years at Winnetonka: 3rd
Bio Needs updated for 2013

Coach Edwards graduated in 1967 from Polo High School in Caldwell County Missouri. He then attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he walked onto the football team and played Tight End on the Freshman team. He graduated from MU in 1971 having majored in Health and Physical Education. He then served two years in the U.S. Army. He received his Master’s Degree in Physical Education from Central Missouri State University in 1978.

Coach Edwards began his football coaching career in 1973 in the Lewis County School District in northeast Missouri. He also coached football at Polo High School, Excelsior Springs High School, and Rock Bridge High School. The majority of his career was spent in Excelsior Springs.

Coach Edwards met his wife, Joan while both were attending MU. They have been married for 42 years. They have two children and three grandchildren. Coach Edwards is the father of Winnetonka Head Football Coach Sterling Edwards.

Coach Jarrett Morris

Coaches: Running Backs
Years at Winnetonka: 4th
Bio Needs updated for 2013

Coach Morris is now entering his 1st year of teaching/coaching after graduating from Missouri Western in 2009. While at Missouri Western Coach Morris earned his degree in Physical Education and became a certified teacher. During his time at Missouri Western Coach Morris was also apart of the MWSU football organization.

Coach Morris grew up in Blue Springs, Missouri and attended Blue Springs High School. During his time at Blue Springs he was a 4 year letterman in Track and Field and a 3 year letterman in football. Earning All-Conference in 3 years of track and Field and 1 year of Football as a defensive back and running back. After high school, Coach Morris earned a scholarship to play and attend Missouri Western. Coach Morris was a part of the first playoff team in school history in 2006. As a Junior in 2007 he received Honorable Mention All-Conference defensive back and also the same as a senior in 2008.

Coach Terry Vickers

Coaches: Offensive Line
Years at Winnetonka: 4th
Bio Needs updated for 2013

Coach Vickers is entering his 23rd year of teaching/coaching with stints at Maysville, Smithville, Kearney, and Lee’s Summit. While at Kearney was part of the 2003 State Champion as an assistant coach. During his time at Smithville was the head coach for six seasons, winning two district championships and two playoff appearances. Coach Vickers has coached a total of nine playoff teams during his career.

Coach Vickers grew up in Buckner, Missouri and attended Fort Osage High School in Independence. During his time at Fort Osage he was a two year letterman in football, earning All Conference and All Area honors as an offensive tackle. He also lettered in basketball. He attended Missouri Western State University on a football scholarship and was a two time All Conference offensive tackle. He was also honored four times as part of the Athletic Director Honor Roll and the President’s Honor Roll.

Coach Vickers is very involved with his family. He has been married to his wife, Sonya, for 22 years. They have three daughters, Haley, 16, Mallory, 11, and Josey, 8.

Coach Kaleb Stoppel

Coaches:Freshmen Head Coach
Years at Winnetonka: 3rd
Bio Needs updated for 2013

Kaleb Stoppel was born in western Kansas. He grew up in Osage City, Kansas where he attended Osage City High School. While attending high school at Osage City he participated in several school activities, including Football, Basketball, Track, and Choir. Stoppel graduated from Osage City High School in 2004.

While at Osage City High School, Stoppel was a four year Letterman in Basketball, Track and Football, while being named to the 1st Team All-League, 1st Team All-County, and several state accolades as a Linebacker and Running Back.

Stoppel earned his Bachelors Degree in Secondary Mathematics Education (2009) from UMKC, where he was a NCAA Division I Track and Field Student-Athlete. While at UMKC, Stoppel was an All-Conference High Jumper, as well as being named to the Academic All-Conference Team for multiple seasons.

After completing his student teaching at Winnetonka High School in 2009, Stoppel started his teaching career at Winnetonka that same year, teaching Algebra 1 and Geometry. He is now beginning his third year as a Winnetonka Math Teacher, as well as being the Head Boys' Track and Field Coach, and coaching Cross Country at WHS last Fall (2010).

In his free time, Coach Stoppel sings in a Semi-Professional choir, performing around the Kansas City area, as well as Dallas, New Orleans, and Des Moines. During the Summer, Coach Stoppel is the Head Coach of a 200+ member swim team in Prairie Village, KS. Coach Stoppel is excited to join the Winnetonka Football family, providing his expertise as the Head Freshmen football coach, coaching the Running Backs and Linebackers.

Coach Caleb Johnson

Coaches: Freshmen Offensive Line and Defensive Line
Years at Winnetonka: 2nd
Bio Needs updated for 2013

Bio coming soon!

Coach Jesse McSpadden

Coaches: Freshmen Wide Receivers and Defensive Secondary
Years at Winnetonka: 1st
Bio Needs updated for 2013

Bio coming soon!

Coach Jared Buckman

Coaches: Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Years at Winnetonka: 1st
Bio Needs updated for 2013

Bio coming soon!