Head Coach Bryce McLean

Occupation: Pre-Engineering Teacher

What inspired you to join FIRST: I had just retired from coaching football, and wanted to find a new activity. FIRST seemed like a great extension to the engineering program at Coronado. I asked students in my engineering classes if they were interested, and got together an avid group of individuals. Team 2996 was born, and I'm still here eleven years later.

What is your favorite part of the year: Right after the team has finished strategy, when the prototypes for all the team's ideas are under construction. Everyone has to think outside of the box to find the best way to build a mechanism, and new team members learn more during this time than any other.

Lynne Williams

Occupation: Retired Biology Teacher

What inspired you to join FIRST: I've always liked STEM competitions,so mentoring a FIRST team was right up my alley.

What is your favorite part of the year: When everyone is first coming up with their ideas. It's so interesting to see the kind of creativity everyone brings to the table.

David Murphy

Occupation: Mechanical Engineer

What inspired you to join FIRST: During the team's first year, my son was a member, and told me that Mr. McLean was looking for engineering mentors. I joined up with the team, and when my kids graduated and left, I didn't.

What do you like about working with the team: Knowing that I could inspire someone to lead a career in STEM.

Alumni Eric Luther

Occupation: Mechanical Engineering Student

What inspired you to join FIRST: I was on an FLL team in middle school, and I came to Coronado in order to continue with FIRST. I spent all four years on the team and loved every second.

What made you want to come back the team: I wanted the opportunity to see the team develop as its new members grow just like I did.

Joe Czechowski

Occupation: Retired Computer Scientist

What inspired you to join FIRST: I started mentoring when my son joined Team 20 in 1998. The FIRST program creates a learning environment that gets students excited about STEM fields.

What is your favorite part of the year: I enjoy going to the competitions and seeing all the teams and their robots. It's incredible to observe and hear about the tremendous variety of approaches that are taken to address the same mission.

Cynthia Bernard

Occupation: Dyslexia Tutor

What inspired you to join FIRST: When my oldest daughter joined the team, I wanted to be a part of it, too. She has graduated and my younger daughter is now a member. This is exactly the kind of opportunity I wish had been available to me when I was in high school and I want to help make it happen.

What do you like about working with the team: I love showing students why technology is fascinating. Robotics is a great way to give life to math and science. I really enjoy helping the team learn engineering skills and become better decision-makers.

Patrick Bernard

Occupation: Systems Engineer/Data Scientist

What inspired you to join FIRST: My oldest daughter joined the team and I wanted to help and be a part of something she was doing.

What do you like about working with the team: I enjoy watching student grow and learn.

George Ott

Occupation: Electrical Engineer

What inspired you to join FIRST: I like to teach, I like to build, FIRST has both.

What is your favorite part of the year: My favorite part of the year is build season.

Blake Miller

Occupation: School District Administrator

What inspired you to join FIRST: I was a teacher at Coronado when they built their first robot, and now my son is part of the team. It's a unique experience!

What do you like about working with the team: It's so neat to watch all the different sub-teams come together with a polished, finished product.

Alumni Ryan Kight

Occupation: Engineering Student

What made you want to come back to the team: Its addicting. There are very few engineering opportunities like the ones FIRST presents, especially in college. Even as a mentor, FIRST is an engineering challenge that can be learned from and make us better students, and engineers in the future.

What is your favorite part of the year: After all the design and prototyping is done, the systems integration team has completed the CAD and there is a moment to admire your work before parts come in from the fabricator. The moment we get parts in, chaos starts again, that's my favorite part.

Ginger Coleman

Occupation: SharePoint Administrator

What do you like about working with the team: Listening to the ideas and then when it comes together how excited they get.

What is your favorite part of the year: Watching the kids come alive with spirit at the competitions and how contagious it is. Then watching other teams join because CGW is so dynamic.

Troy Van Caster

Occupation: Electrical Engineer

What inspired you to join FIRST: I became a mentor this year because both my sons are currently on the robotics team and it gave me an opportunity to work with them. I also enjoy the challenge of teaching the students how to think about and solve complex problems.

What do you like about working with the team: In my short time as a mentor, I have been truly impressed with the student leaders and how well they lead their sub-teams.

Adam Leech

Occupation: Small Business Owner

What inspired you to join FIRST: I was inspired to join FIRST by the impressive energy, enthusiasm, and gracious professionalism of the students and the FIRST Robotics community. As a small business owner I was eager to help the team create and execute their business and marketing plans.

What is your favorite part of the year: My favorite part of the year is the lead up to “build season.” There is something very exciting about not knowing what game will be played, and imagining the infinite possibilities.

Ann Lebahn

Occupation: Systems Engineer

What inspired you to join FIRST: Volunteered as a FLL judge for 6 years and decided that I wanted to get involved with a robotics team. Heard about team 2996 from a friend so decided to check it out. After that I was hooked.

What do you like about working with the team: Having a chance to help inspire students in STEM and being inspired by them.

Jason Ulrich

Occupation: Engineer

What inspired you to join FIRST: My son and our mutual admiration for design and engineering.

What do you like about working with the team: It’s a great group of students and mentors sharing the same drive and vision.

Mikie Ulrich

Occupation: Director - Software Support, Oracle Corporation

What inspired you to join FIRST: I have always had a passion for math, science and technology. Last year, my son joined the team and it was fun to be around during the competitions, so I decided to get involved as a mentor.

What do you like about working with the team: Watching the students work hard to accomplish their goals, support each other and have fun all at the same time.

Thomas Thoms

Occupation: Retired from the Motion Picture Industry

What do you like about working with the team: The students are so talented.

Brian Worby

Occupation: Firmware Engineer

What inspired you to join FIRST: It looked interesting and i thought I could help out.

What is your favorite part of the year: Competing in our home state at the Denver regional.

Joy Yeakley

Occupation: Psychotherapist

What inspired you to join FIRST: FIRST attracts creative, bright, and relational kids who will change the world, and I want to see them grow.

What do you like about working with the team: Being a part of the robotics family.

Alumni Chris Sherwood

Occupation: Electrical Engineering Intern

What inspired you to join FIRST: When the team first formed, I was in engineering classes here at Coronado, so I knew Mr. McLean already. Plenty of my friends were getting involved, and so I decided to follow suit.

What impact did the team have for you after graduation: The team actually helped me get my first job. After I graduated and was in college, a contact of mine, who knew about the team, asked if I wanted to fill in some electrical engineering work. It was only supposed to last for a few weeks, but I ended up working there for several years.

Brian Arneson

Occupation: Software Engineer