Bellevue defensive coordinator Wes Warren has accepted a coaching position with the University of Montana Western, an NAIA school in Dillon, Mont.
Warren, who just finished his 12th season on Bellevue’s staff, will be the team’s linebackers/special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator.
“I kind of realized a couple years ago that I enjoyed coaching so much that if I didn’t make a lot of money in the profession, I’d still be happy,” Warren said. “I told that to Butch [Goncharoff, Bellevue’s coach] a couple years ago and decided to do one more year because of the kids.”
Warren, whose younger brother Cam is a wide receiver at the University of Montana, was called by Montana Western after Bellevue’s season ended with a state championship victory over Liberty.
“We talked back and forth and I flew over and spent five days watching them do their winter conditioning,” Warren said. “It just seemed like a great fit.”
Warren, who did not play college football, noted a few area connections on the Montana Western staff. Offensive Coordinator Pohai Lee grew up in Oregon across the street from Liberty High School coach Steve Valach. Defensive Coordinator Travis Domser played at Eatonville under former Skyline coach Steve Gervais.
“They knew that me not playing college football put me as a guy that could have flown under the radar,” Warren said. “This is a great opportunity for me to get my feet wet.”
The Bulldogs, who went 4-6 last year, feature several players from the state of Washington, including three players from Liberty.
Warren is the second area coach to leave for the college ranks following last season. Interlake coach Sheldon Cross accepted a graduate assistant position with Washington State University in December.
Warren said he’ll miss Bellevue, where he was an all-conference linebacker, but he’s ready for the change that Dillon, a city of just 3,700, will bring.
“I just needed a change of pace for life,” he said. “When I saw how the coaches and players interacted at Montana Western, it reminded me of Bellevue in a way. This isn’t a business; I’ll get to maintain that relationship of working with kids.”
Warren will head to Dillon next week to officially begin his recruiting duties.
