Coaches

PROGRAM COORDINATOR & HEAD COACH - JAMES TOMAS

JAMES TOMAS
Coach Tomas is one of the two original coaches and founders of the Junior Huskies Tackle Football Club. He continues to lead and coach the program today. Coach Tomas also assists in coaching the Horizon High School Freshman Team, a role he took on in 2014. Coach Tomas has a son (Jacob) who played for the Junior Huskies & went on to graduate from Horizon High School in 2017.

COACH - ADAM MARZOLA

ADAM MARZOLA
Coach Marzola is as close to a local as you can get, having played for Horizon High School & graduating in 2001. While playing football at Horizon he played quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback, safety & had various roles on special teams. He has been a coach with the Junior Huskies since 2016. Away from the football field, Coach Marzola spends his time partnering with the Arizona Fellowship of Christian Athletes. azfca.org

COACH - RYAN ECKHOLM

RYAN ECKHOLM
Coach Eckholm grew up in Stevens Point, Wisconsin where he earned unanimous all-conference honors in football (as a linebacker) & also competed in varsity basketball & wrestling. He received an appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy to attend college, where he continued to compete in both football & wrestling. He was a two-year starter in football & played linebacker on the 10-1 1988 ECAC championship football team. In addition to coaching the Jr. Huskies, Coach Eckholm coaches the linebackers on the Horizon freshman football team.

COACH - DAVE LARSON

DAVE LARSON

Coach Larson is originally from Minnesota where he grew up playing football as a kid. He moved to Arizona and attended Horizon High School. He has coached various youth sports. He has 3 boys that have played or still play for the Jr. Huskies program. Two of those boys are attending Horizon as freshman in the fall 2023 and playing football.

COACH - CHRIS ERYICH

CHRIS EYRICH
Coach Eyrich is a Phoenix native and was a two-sport athlete at St. Mary's High School where during his junior year they won the football state championship. He was a walk-on at the University of Arizona as a defensive back. Coach Eyrich has been coaching for the Junior Huskies program since 2021 and started assisting with Horizon's freshman football team in 2023.

COACH - KEVIN TOMPKINS

KEVIN TOMPKINS
Coach Tompkins comes from the Midwest (Iowa & Indiana) where he was a 3-sport high school athlete - playing football, basketball & baseball. He earned all-state & academic-all-state honors in football & went on to play WR in college. Away from the football field, coach Tompkins enjoys spending time with his wife (Quinn), son (Logan) and daughter (Dylan) and he works on Central Garden & Pet's Equine business.

COACH - RUSS MARKOVICH

RUSS MARKOVICH
Coach Markovich comes from Long Island, New York where he was a 2-year high school letterman in football & lacrosse. He earned multiple athletic scholarships & went on to play college football at the tight end position. Coach Markovich specializes in the areas of offensive & defensive line & tight ends. He has been coaching alongside Coach Tomas since 2018. His 3 sons played for the Junior Huskies.

COACH - STEVE BAST

STEVE BAST

With his father serving in the U.S. Air Force, Steve Bast grew up in New York, Colorado, Germany, Michigan & eventually upstate Arizona. Although undersized, he was a member of the football team for four years at Camp Verde High School, playing mostly special teams. For his tenacity, he received the team’s Ironman Award his senior year & uses the plaque as an office paperweight still to this day. He has coached flag football with Gridiron, CityWest & Core5. He started coaching with the Junior Huskies & is excited to emphasize a balance of physical skills & technique along with mental skills such as effort & attitude. Professionally, he works in marketing & owns a co-working space called Mixtape, not far from Horizon.

COACH - WALES HUNKIN

WALES HUNKIN
Coach Hunkin graduated from Paradise Valley High School where he played football & wrestled. Wales started his coaching career with the Junior Huskies in 2014 - coaching his twin boys for 2 seasons & winning a 14U championship. Coach Hunkin moved up with his boys & coached at Paradise Valley High School as a Freshman Coach. From there, he moved up & coached the Varsity at Paradise Valley for 6 years (focusing on Offensive & Defensive Line). He's returned to the Junior Huskies in 2023 & is looking forward to coaching his youngest son (Markus) as well as developing all the other young men to be great students, citizens & athletes. Wales runs a construction company (Mahalo Construction) & is all over town building restaurants. Away from the football field & work, he loves spending time with his sons, date nights with his wife, getting a round of golf in whenever he can & watching his AZ Cardinals, Phoenix Suns & St. Louis Cardinals.

COACH - CHRIS BECKER

CHRIS BECKER

COACH - MIKE METZLER

MIKE METZLER

All of our Junior Huskies coaches are VOLUNTEER coaches with backgrounds in tackle football. They dedicate countless hours of their time on and off the field to make sure each player has the proper knowledge to play tackle football safely and with confidence.

We are THANKFUL and BLESSED to have them on our TEAM.