Meet our Amazing Coaches!

Varsity Coaching Staff

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Head Varsity Coach, Quinn Clair

Coach Q graduated from Bend High School in 2006 where he was a three-year letterman as a middle infielder. He went on to play baseball at Cuesta College in California and in Fairbanks, Alaska in the ABL. Coach Q graduated college from OSU in 2011 and teaches Science at Bend High.  Q also coaches football for the Lava Bears. He’s excited about being back at his alma mater coaching the sports that he loves. Q says BSH is special because of its acceptance of others as well as the family that it creates for all. Character is the concentration. Away from the yard, Coach Q enjoys reading books, working with wood, and elk hunting. He says there is nothing like the bugle of an elk to get your heart going in the early morning light… love!

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Pitching Coach, Chuck Clair 

Chuck Clair, pitching coach has been teaching and coaching baseball for 29 years.  He played baseball at Linfield College then coached there after graduation as a JV baseball coach.  He was the head coach at Crook County HS for 8 years.  He also coached at Newberg HS and was the pitching coach at Bend High for 8 years before a short break.Out

Chuck went to Bend High School and played both football and baseball there.  He is married to Carol and they have three children; Quinn, Chase and Ellis.  His hobbies include; baseball, fly tying and fly fishing.

Go Bears!

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Infield Coach, Colton Sims

Sims was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. He played his high school ball at Earl Wooster High School where he lettered in baseball and basketball for 3 years and graduated in 2010. After high school he went on to play baseball at Lassen Junior College. After his career at Lassen he got a scholarship to Eastern New Mexico University. He was an All-American Second Baseman at both levels. After his playing career was over, he became Coach Sims. He coached baseball at the D-2 level for a year, as well as softball at the D-2 level for a year. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree for Sports Administration. He lives with his beautiful girlfriend Melissa and his dog Ember. When he is not coaching, he loves to golf, hike, fish, snowboard, and play slow pitch softball.

Favorite Sports Teams: Oakland Athletics, Miami Dolphins, San Jose Sharks, and Portland Trailblazers.

Favorite Quotes:

“It takes ZERO talent to HUSSLE!!”

“It is impossible to beat someone who never gives up.”

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Outfield Coach, Jesse Kurtz-Nichol

Grew up in Southern California and attended University High School in Los Angeles.  He then took a scholarship to Rice University in Houston, twice making it to the College World Series, with Rice achieving a top-5 in the nation ranking through most of the 1999 season.  While playing outfield and pitching in high school, he was mostly a middle reliever and closer at the collegiate level.  Jesse was named 3rd team All-American his senior year at Rice and was drafted in the 10th round of the Major League Draft by the Kansas City Royals.

After playing 2+ seasons in the Kansas City farm system, he moved on to other pursuits and began teaching.  His previous coaching experience includes 2 years as head coach at Richmond High School in Northern California.

Jesse is a recent addition to the Bend community.  He moved here with his wife Dr. Regan Gage who is a new Ob/Gyn with East Cascade Women’s Group.  They have a 5 year-old daughter, Quinn.  

 

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Pat McHenry- Varsity Statistician

Entering 4th year of coaching freshmen baseball at Bend High. Prior to that he coached girl’s fastpitch softball at Bend High for 15 years. Graduated from Sunset High school in 1971 before entering the service upon graduation. Played baseball for various units while serving in the Army. Coaching experience includes Little League, Single A and Triple A Legion, one year as head coach for COCC Bobcats, before signing on with Bend High. Pat also has coached freshmen football at Bend High for the past 11 seasons. Married to his wife Debbie of 34 years and has two grown children, Holly and Corey, and two grandsons Connor and Colton.

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JV Coaching Staff

Jeff Gillespie- JV Head Coach

Graduated from Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, ID. Jeff lettered in Baseball 3 times, as a Pitcher and Infielder. Received All Conference honors as a Utility player. He also lettered in basketball his senior year, when his team set a school record for wins and finished 3rd in state. Then continued his playing career at Walla Walla Community College as a Pitcher and Infielder, Where his class won an impressive 60 games in 2 years, and got to the East region finals both years. Off the baseball field, Coach Gillespie enjoys golf, and College Football. Jeff  is the son of Steve and Kathy Gillespie, has a 23 year old sister, Cara, who plays Volleyball at PLU, and has a 13 year old brother, Alex. 

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Assistant Coach, Steve Gillespie

Steve is from Bellingham, WA where he attended Sehome High School played Football, Ski Raced, and played Baseball for legendary Coach Gary Hatch. After High School he attended Wenatchee Valley College to pursue education….and Ski Racing. From 1988 – 2000 he was a PGA Golf Professional where he developed a keen knowledge of Bio-mechanics and Sports Psychology. Since 2000 he has turned his knowledge toward his real passion….Baseball. This will be his 19th season coaching youth Baseball at many levels. He is currently employed as President of Cascade Wireless. Steve is married to wife Kathy; they have three children Jeff, Cara, and Alex. Jeff is also a Coach with the Lava Bears. Cara attends Pacific Lutheran University, where she plays Volleyball, and is currently studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Alex is 13 and a student  and he loves the Mariners.

Favorite Team: Seattle Mariners Favorite Players: Ken Griffey Jr, Alex Rodriguez, and Edgar Martinez

Steve joined the Lava Bear coaching family last summer as an Assistant Coach of our D2 summer team.

Coaching philosophy: Attitude and Effort, require no talent, and can produce great results!

 

 

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Colton Sims, Head Freshman Coach  

Sims was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. He played his high school ball at Earl Wooster High School where he lettered in baseball and basketball for 3 years and graduated in 2010. After high school he went on to play baseball at Lassen Junior College. After his career at Lassen he got a scholarship to Eastern New Mexico University. He was an All-American Second Baseman at both levels. After his playing career was over, he became Coach Sims. He coached baseball at the D-2 level for a year, as well as softball at the D-2 level for a year. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree for Sports Administration. He lives with his beautiful girlfriend Melissa and his dog Ember. When he is not coaching, he loves to golf, hike, fish, snowboard, and play slow pitch softball.

Favorite Sports Teams: Oakland Athletics, Miami Dolphins, San Jose Sharks, and Portland Trailblazers.

Favorite Quotes:

“It takes ZERO talent to HUSSLE!!”

“It is impossible to beat someone who never gives up.”

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Freshman Coaches