Coaching Staff

Head Coach - CHAD FRIGON

  • Full Name: Chad Frigon

  • Coaching Position: Head Coach, Fullbacks

  • Birthday & Place of Birth: 10/15/1971 Topeka Kansas

  • High School Attended: Clay Center High School

  • College Attended: Kansas State

  • What positions did you play in HS and/or College? Fullback, Offensive Line, and Defensive End

  • Who was your inspiration when you were playing? I was a big Bo Jackson fan because he played multiple sports

  • Who is your favorite football player ever? Patrick Mahomes!

  • Who is your favorite college team? Kansas State

  • Who is your favorite Pro team? Kansas City Chiefs

  • Who is the best football Coach of all time? Bill Snyder

  • What is your best & most difficult memory playing football? My favorite memory was playing in a thunderstorm on a mud field (before lightening rules) Most difficult was getting knocked out the playoffs my Junior season

  • What was your favorite “Psyche Up” song when you played? Welcome to the Jungle Guns N Roses

  • Favorite movie? National Lampoons Vacation (the original)

  • Favorite food/meal? Slaps BBQ

  • If you were stranded on an island, which Coach on the staff would you choose to be stranded with? Brian Van Hauen, I know he would figure out a way to get us off the island

  • If married, please tell us something about your wife and kids: Married to Julie for over 28 years, she works at Transystems Engineering. Daughter Josi works at Burns and McDonnel as an Engineer and is also a Chiefs Cheerleader. Daughter Jericho plays soccer at Kansas State and is studying accounting!

  • What is your primary goal for your position players/area of responsibility? I want all of our players to enjoy the time they spent in our program and take something with them that will help them later in life

  • Tell us something surprising about yourself: I read over 30 books a year

Head Coach and Family

O-Line Coach - GRANT BROWN

  • Full Name: Grant Brown

  • Coaching Position: OLINE

  • Birthday & Place of Birth: 09/12/1989 Beloit Kansas

  • High School Attended: Beloit Jr-Sr High School

  • College Attended: Fort Hays State University

  • What positions did you play in HS and/or College? HS-DE and TE College- TE

  • Who was your inspiration when you were playing? My family

  • Who is your favorite football player ever? Peyton Manning

  • Who is your favorite college team? Kansas State

  • Who is your favorite Pro team? Denver Broncos

  • Who is the best football Coach of all time? Nick Saban

  • What is your best & most difficult memory playing football? Last football game in college knowing it was last time id ever play. 

  • What was your favorite “Psyche Up” song when you played? Thunder Rolls- Garth Brooks

  • Favorite movie? Shawshank Redemption

  • Favorite food/meal? Anything Italian

  • If you were stranded on an island, which Coach on the staff would you choose to be stranded with? John Neldon 

  • If married, please tell us something about your wife and kids: Met my wife Caleigh at FHSU. We are blessed with two beautiful girls CJ and Avery. 

  • What is your primary goal for your position players/area of responsibility?  Goal is to get better every week and dominate the line of scrimmage each and every week with a tough mentality. 

  • Tell us something surprising about yourself: Grew up on a farm in North Central Kansas and went to a small HS. Graduated with 58 kids in my class. 

Running Backs & Special Teams Coordinator - JOHN HELDON

  • Full Name: John Neldon

  • Coaching Position: Running Backs and Special Teams Coordinator

  • Birthday & Place of Birth: Dec 28th, Arkansas

  • High School Attended: Nettleton, Jonesboro AR

  • College Attended: Arkansas State & US. Army

  • What positions did you play in HS and/or College? TE and LB

  • Who was your inspiration when you were playing? My dad, he worked a lot of extra jobs to pay for me and brothers to play sports

  • Who is your favorite football player ever? Dan Marino and Zack Thomas

  • Who is your favorite college team? Arkansas Razorbacks!!!

  • Who is your favorite Pro team? NONE

  • Who is the best football Coach of all time? Nick Saban

  • What is your best & most difficult memory playing football?

    Best: Goal Line tackle in the second round of the playoffs in overtime to win the game which led to our coach getting his 100th win and our school its first ever 12 win season and 1st time ever making it to the 3rd round of state.

    Most difficult: Losing the following week and being the last time to play highschool football with my friends.

  • What was your favorite “Psyche Up” song when you played? Didn’t listen to music before, I like the quiet before the storm. lol

  • Favorite movie? The book of Eli

  • Favorite food/meal? Meat and potatoes kinda guy

  • If you were stranded on an island, which Coach on the staff would you choose to be stranded with? Grant Brown and we’re making it off that island somehow someway!

  • If married, please tell us something about your wife and kids: Deanna Neldon, teacher and athletic trainer at LHS. Emmalee 8th grader at LMS, Eli 6th grader and Evan 1st grader.

  • What is your primary goal for your position players/area of responsibility? Teach them to do the right thing even when it’s hard, to be accountable and hopefully make them better men.

  • Tell us something surprising about yourself? I have an identical twin brother and we’re the youngest of 6 boys

Defensive Coordinator - BRIAN VAN HAUEN

 

  • Full Name: Brian Van Hauen

  • Coaching Position: Defensive Coordinator

  • Birthday & Place of Birth: Sept. 28, 1971 – Marshalltown, IA

  • High School Attended: Dike, IA

  • College Attended: Wartburg College

  • What positions did you play in HS and/or College? Linebacker / Safety

  • Who was your inspiration when you were playing? Brian Bozworth, Mike Singletary, Ronnie Lott

  • Who is your favorite football player ever? Bo Jackson

  • Who is your favorite college team? Iowa Hawkeyes

  • Who is your favorite Pro team? Kansas City Chiefs

  • Who is the best football Coach of all time? Hayden Fry

  • What is your best & most difficult memory playing football? Difficult – Having back surgery after my Freshman year of college that ended my playing career. Best – I can’t think of just one single game memory that was better than others.  My best memory is the relationships I built with guys in HS and college of battling with them and being a part of something special.  

  • What was your favorite “Psyche Up” song when you played? Aerosmith: Dream On

  • Favorite movie? Top Gun or Road House

  • Favorite food/meal? Garrozzo’s Veal Parm

  • If you were stranded on an island, which Coach on the staff would you choose to be stranded with? Frigon…his positivity will make you believe you will be rescued within the hour.

  • If married, please tell us something about your wife and kids: Wife: Claire (married 10 years), Kids: Ben (22-Sr. Applied Health Science Major at NWMOST), Cole (18-making his way in the Vintage Clothing business), Caden (18-Freshman Exercise Science Major and Track Athlete at MO St.)

  • What is your primary goal for your position players/area of responsibility?  Develop a defensive unit that loves playing together and improves each week.

  • Tell us something surprising about yourself: I’ve hiked up (18) 14’ers (14,000 ft. peaks) in Colorado.  This year was a 2nd trip up Mt. Harvard at 14,424 ft. and took 10 hours 45 min to make the 15 mile round trip.

Wide Receivers Coach - ROBERT RAWIE

  • Full Name: Robert Rawie

  • Coaching Position: Wide Receivers 

  • Birthday & Place of Birth: 12/28/1999  Liberty, MO

  • High School Attended: Liberty High School   Grad: 2018

  • College Attended: Northwest Missouri State University  Grad: 2023

  • What positions did you play in HS and/or College? High School: Running Back/Defensive Back, College: Running Back

  • Who was your inspiration when you were playing? I had a lot of inspiration each and every game/practice. I wanted to make my family proud, I wanted to be a great teammate, and I wanted to be someone my coaches could always trust.

  • Who is your favorite football player ever? Too many to count… Top 3 I always like to watch highlights of are Barry Sanders, Christian McCaffery, and Jammal Charles.

  • Who is your favorite college team? Northwest Missouri State or Mizzou

  • Who is your favorite Pro team? Kansas City Chiefs

  • Who is the best football Coach of all time? Lots of great coaches… Andy Reid, Nick Saban, Bill Belicheck, and many more.

  • What is your best & most difficult memory playing football? Best memory would have to be just the camaraderie among all of my teammates. Most difficult memory is just the amount of work and sacrifice you put into the sport, but it is all worth it in the end. 

  • What was your favorite “Psyche Up” song when you played? Thunderstruck by AC/DC

  • Favorite movie? Glory Road

  • Favorite food/meal? Anything BBQ

  • If you were stranded on an island, which Coach on the staff would you choose to be stranded with? John Neldon

  • If married, please tell us something about your wife and kids: Will be married to my Fiancée Lillie Bock June 7th, 2024.

  • What is your primary goal for your position players/area of responsibility?  To get better each and every day and to represent Liberty on and off the field. A true role model within the community

  • Tell us something surprising about yourself: I was a former player for almost all the coaches on staff. 

Wide Receivers Coach

Defensive Line Coach - ROB SELF

  • Full Name: Rob Self

  • Coaching Position: Defensive Line

  • Birthday & Place of Birth: July 29th, St Louis MO

  • High School Attended: Hillsboro MO

  • College Attended: Lindenwood University

  • What positions did you play in HS and/or College? Defensive Line

  • Who was your inspiration when you were playing? Reggie White

  • Who is your favorite football player ever? Charles Woodson

  • Who is your favorite college team? Michigan

  • Who is your favorite Pro team? Green Bay

  • Who is the best football Coach of all time? Vince Lombardi

  • What is your best & most difficult memory playing football? Difficult – Senior Year, ranked 2nd in state, went 9-1 and the one loss kept us out of the playoffs. Best – Hard to pick just one, probably my first varsity play I sacked the QB and the next day I watched the TV replay and the announcers said “Whoa, this kids a monster”  

  • What was your favorite “Psyche Up” song when you played? Anything AC/DC or Metallic, its the only CDs that the locker room radio would play

  • Favorite movie? Hard to pick just one, depends on my mood, tend to pick Sci-Fi and Action

  • Favorite food/meal? Thatsa Nicea Pizza Powerhouse Pizza

  • If you were stranded on an island, which Coach on the staff would you choose to be stranded with? Not sure yet, first year, trying to see who would make the cut

  • If married, please tell us something about your wife and kids? Wife Kelley, been married 9 years Sons Bear (7) nad Lincoln (3)

  • What is your primary goal for your position players/area of responsibility?  Establish a great relationship with all of them and make them great football players but most importantly better men.

  • Tell us something surprising about yourself ? I am a really great cook, I can bbq with the best of them.

Cornerbacks Coach - ORLANDO MONTEL WARD JR

  • Full Name: Orlando Montel Ward Jr.

  • Coaching Position: Cornerbacks Coach

  • Birthday & Place of Birth: November 4th, Fort Hood, Texas

  • High School Attended: Bellville Township Highschool East

  • College Attended: William Jewell College

  • What positions did you play in HS and/or College? Defensive Back. Safety in high school.
    Corner Back in College

  • Who was your inspiration when you were playing? My uncle Aaron. He’s only 2 years older
    than me so it was almost like looking up to an older brother.

  • Who is your favorite football player ever? Michael Vick

  • Who is your favorite college team? Florida Gators

  • Who is your favorite Pro team? Atlanta Falcons

  • Who is the best football Coach of all time? Jimmy Johnson

  • What is your best & most difficult memory playing football?

    Difficult – Giving up over 100 yards and 2 touchdowns on ESPN in college

    Best – Beating our toughest conference opponent in high school for the first time in 8 years, and what stands as the only time in the last 21 years

  • What was your favorite “Psyche Up” song when you played? Was and still am a hardcore Taylor Swift listener before games.

  • Favorite movie? The Godfather

  • Favorite food/meal? Philly Cheesesteak

  • If you were stranded on an island, which Coach on the staff would you choose to be stranded with?Coach Ward

  • What is your primary goal for your position players/area of responsibility?  To help them not only become better players but men. I strongly believe us as coaches are not just football coaches but life coaches as well.

  • Tell us something surprising about yourself? Used to compete professionally on Call of Duty teams

ORLANDO MONTEL WARD JR

Offensive Line Assistant Coach - DYLAN BRAUGHTON

  • Full Name: Dylon Braughton

  • Coaching Position: Offensive Line Assistant 

  • Birthday & Place of Birth: July 21st, 2003. Liberty Missouri 

  • High School Attended: Liberty High School 

  • College Attended: Briar Cliff University 

  • What positions did you play in HS and/or College? Center and Guard 

  • Who was your inspiration when you were playing? Orlando Pace

  • Who is your favorite football player ever? Ed “Too Tall” Jones

  • Who is your favorite college team? TCU (Texas Christian University)

  • Who is your favorite Pro team? Kansas City Chiefs 

  • Who is the best football Coach of all time? Vince Lombardi

  • What is your best & most difficult memory playing football?

    Difficult – Senior Year – Heartbreaking loss in the playoffs to Liberty North after beating them in the regular season

    Best – Definitely Starting out my senior season ranked last in the conference and ending up 10-2 while being number 1 in the state for 5 weeks

  • What was your favorite “Psyche Up” song when you played? Was and still am a hardcore Taylor Swift listener before games. 

  • Favorite movie? The Godfather 

  • Favorite food/meal? Philly Cheesesteak 

  • If you were stranded on an island, which Coach on the staff would you choose to be stranded with? Coach Ward

  • What is your primary goal for your position players/area of responsibility?  To help them not only become better players but men. I strongly believe us as coaches are not just football coaches but life coaches as well. 

  • Tell us something surprising about yourself? Used to compete professionally on Call of Duty teams

Quarterbacks Coach - ERIC HOLM

 

  • Full Name: Eric Holm

  • Coaching Position? Quarterbacks

  • Birthday & Place of Birth? 12/30/1959 KCMO

  • High School Attended? Truman HS

  • College Attended? Truman State University

  • What positions did you play in HS and/or College? Wide Receiver/Quarterback/Cornerback/ Kick Returner

  • Who was your inspiration when you were playing? Whoever was coaching me.

  • Who is your favorite football player ever? Otis Taylor

  • Who is your favorite college team? Truman State University

  • Who is your favorite Pro team? Chieeeefs!

  • Who is the best football Coach of all time? Bill Walsh

  • What is your best & most difficult memory playing football? Best-Setting MiAA records for Catches in a season,Touchdowns receptions in a game and Punt Returns in a Career. Difficult-As a head coach, Pittsburg State scoring on the last play of the game to deny us being the first team to beat them once they joined the MIAA

  • What was your favorite “Psyche Up” song when you played? Atomic Dog

  • Favorite movie? The Godfather

  • Favorite food/meal? Mom’s Burritos

  • If you were stranded on an island, which Coach on the staff would you choose to be stranded with? All of them

  • If married, please tell us something about your wife and kids (optional): They are all extremely successful in their own right and completely supportive of each other.

Quarterbacks Coach

Defensive Backs Coach - DARIAN TAYLOR

  • Full Name: Darian Taylor
  • Coaching Position: Defensive Backs
  • Birthday & Place of Birth: March 30th (Topeka, KS)
  • High School Attended: Manhattan High School
  • College Attended: Pittsburg State University
  • What positions did you play in HS and/or College? QB/RB/S/LB
  • Who was your inspiration when you were playing? Early on I was often inspired by the family, friends and mentors that had poured into me… later in my career I became very inspired by the idea of defying the odds.
  • Who is your favorite football player ever? Ray Lewis and Brian Dawkins were two of my favorites – guys who were great leaders and played with fearless intensity and an undeniable passion for the game.
  • Who is your favorite college team? Pittsburg State Gorillas
  • Who is your favorite Pro team? Philly Eagles. Fly Eagles Fly!
  • Who is the best football Coach of all time? In my lifetime, Bill Snyder and Nick Saban come to mind.
  • What is your best & most difficult memory playing football? Most difficult memories were dealing with injuries and missing time during my senior seasons of HS and college. A couple of my best memories were being voted as a team captain at Pitt and receiving my first professional contract.
  • What was your favorite “Psyche Up” song when you played? Ambition by Wale and Hell’s Bells by AC/DC.
  • Favorite movie? Too many great movies to narrow it down to one. Favorite TV series is Game of Thrones.
  • Favorite food/meal? It’s a toss up between Mexican and Italian food.
  • If you were stranded on an island, which Coach on the staff would you choose to be stranded with? I’m going with Johnny Neldon. He got that dawg in him so I know we will find a way.
  • What is your primary goal for your position players/area of responsibility?  For each of them to get 1% better each day, be the best version of themselves, and to take the skills/mindset they develop through football and apply it to every other area of their lives.
  • Tell us something surprising about yourself: I am a big nerd for sci-fi/comic book related movies.

DARIAN TAYLOR

Outside Linebackers Coach - PATRICK WILLIAMS

  • Full Name:  Patrick Williams
  • Coaching Position: Outside Linebackers
  • Birthday & Place of Birth: August 31st, North Kansas City
  • High School Attended: Liberty High School Grad: 2001
  • College Attended: Colorado Mines, Mizzou
  • What positions did you play in HS and/or College? Wide Receiver/Slot
  • Who was your inspiration when you were playing? Family
  • Who is your favorite football player ever? Mahomes
  • Who is your favorite college team? Colorado Mines and Mizzou Tigers
  • Who is your favorite Pro team? Chiefs
  • Who is the best football Coach of all time? Vince Lombardi
 
  • What is your best & most difficult memory playing football? My last high school game against Rockhurst. Lost in overtime in the “Ice Bowl”
  • What was your favorite “Psyche Up” song when you played? Metallica
  • Favorite movie? Dazed and Confused
  • Favorite food/meal? Steak
  • If you were stranded on an island, which Coach on the staff would you choose to be stranded with? Coach Brown
  • If married, please tell us something about your wife and kids: I have been married to my wife, Kristin for 15 years. She is an in-home nurse.  We have two daughters.  Delaney is a 7th grader at LMS and is a competitive dancer.  Kennedy is in 4th grade at EPIC and loves to play soccer.
  • What is your primary goal for your position players/area of responsibility?  Get better every week and contribute to the most memorable season possible.
  • Tell us something surprising about yourself: Coach Hansen was my head coach in high school and Coach Frigon and Van Hauen were on staff.
 
PATRICK WILLIAMS

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