Our first of the Unredacted series looks at High School Coaching Issues in Part 1: Lakeville South. Let’s start by acknowledging the elephant in the room. The 2025–26 winter season has been a paradox: Lakeville South was winning but the leadership at the top was anything but settled.
Boys Hockey
2026-Head Coach Josh Storm
In late January 2026, Storm was placed on administrative leave by the district pending an internal investigation. While he was cleared to return to his teaching duties in early February, the district has maintained his leave from coaching through the end of the season. On March 19, Strib Varsity reported that Storm was asked to resign by the Lakeville School District. Reports have pointed toward a postgame incident in mid-January involving a loss of temper. In a rare move, the school tapped Girls Hockey Head Coach Kurt Weber to take over the boys’ bench for the postseason. Weber, who previously coached the boys’ team for a decade, was believed by the district to provide the “stability” in the locker room. While Storm has resigned as Head Coach, from our information he still is a Lakeville District School teacher.
2021-Head Coach Janne Kivihalme
Janne Kivihalme served as the head coach of the Lakeville South High School boys’ hockey team from 2018 to 2021, transforming the program into a state contender. He led the Cougars to three consecutive Section 1AA titles and a 2021 Class AA runner-up finish, finishing with a 56-24-3 record before resigning. A Hometownsource.com article stated that despite a high approval rating and success, his departure was linked to dissatisfaction from select, non-program parents rather than performance.
Football
2025-Head Coach Ben Burk
Ben Burk was hired to be Head Coach at Lakeville South in 2019/2020 (following the Tyler Krebs resignation), Burk has maintained a culture of high performance and low drama, recently leading the Cougars to a massive upset over #1 Maple Grove in the 2025 playoffs. A Strib Varsity article stated that in early February of 2025, Burk announced his resignation and his decision to become Head Football Coach at Cretin-Derham Hall. A Hometownsource.com article stated that he later reconsidered the move to CDH and would be staying at Lakeville South.
2019-Tyler Krebs
According to a Hometownsource.com article Tyler Krebs, a 1991 Lakeville High School graduate, returned to Lakeville South in 2017 as Head Football Coach. Krebs resigned as the Lakeville South high school head football coach Monday after a complaint was filed against him with the accusation of unauthorized computer access.
Prior to Krebs taking over the Lakeville South Football program, they were normally considered the “little brother” to the Lakeville North program. Krebs had to foresight to reach out to Elk River Head Coach Steve Hamilton regarding the Power T offense. That changed the trajectory of Lakeville South’s football.
Let’s be clear, no one is giving Krebs a pass for the ‘password-gate’ scandal. Using electronics to gain an unfair advantage is a line you don’t cross. Yet, there’s an irony in the district’s handling of the situation; if the breach was as egregious as the headlines suggested, his continued employment as a teacher in the district raises eyebrows. Districts often take the “path of least resistance.” Removing a coach is a simple board vote. By keeping the person as a teacher, the district satisfies the “coaching issue” (by getting them off the field) without triggering a massive legal battle. Firing a tenured teacher involves months of hearings, lawyers, and potential settlements.
But beyond the personal error, we have to talk about the ‘wild west’ of sports technology. Hudl is the backbone of high school football, and with that power comes the responsibility of password protection. A head coach’s job now includes digital gatekeeping. In this case, the Eastview leadership dropped the ball on basic security protocols. In 2026, a coach who doesn’t manage their Hudl access is as vulnerable as a defense that doesn’t watch film.”
The “Invisible Bench”: Parental Influence on Turnover
Lakeville South has seen elite coaches depart or face investigations (like the Storm hockey situation in early 2026 or the Kivihalme resignation in 2021).
- The Pressure: Data from the MSHSCA shows that 72% of girls’ hockey coaches in MN have turned over in three years, with “parental pressure” cited as a top reason.
- The Culture: At South, the community is highly engaged. While this means great fundraising and packed stands, it also means coaches are under 24/7 scrutiny. A single “heated” practice or a tactical disagreement can lead to a coordinated effort by a small group of parents to trigger a district investigation.
The “Vocal Minority” vs. The Silent Majority
It’s important to note that most parents are supportive, but the “parent issue” is often driven by a few loud voices.
Social Media Echo Chambers: Private Facebook groups or group chats often serve as a place where frustration builds into a “movement” before a coach even knows there is a problem.
Coordinated Grievances: In high-profile programs like hockey or football, a group of parents can use formal district complaint processes as a tool for leadership change.
Leave a Reply