Meet The Centennial Girls Basketball Coaching Staff

Coach Wirtz brings over 25 years of coaching experience throughout the Twin Cities metro area, developing athletes and strengthening programs at multiple levels. Most recently, he coached at Blaine High School, where his leadership and commitment to player development earned him two Section 7AAAA Assistant Coach of the Year awards, including his most recent recognition in 2023.

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In addition to his coaching career, Coach Wirtz serves as a Special Education teacher at Highview Middle School in New Brighton. His background in education reinforces his ability to connect with student-athletes, support their growth, and build teams grounded in discipline, accountability, resilience, and shared values.

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A proud father of five and grandfather of four, Coach Wirtz brings a family-first approach to the Centennial Girls Basketball program—creating an environment where athletes are challenged, supported, and encouraged to “Set the Standard” every day.

Coach Thompson is in her second year with the district and her first season serving as a JV/Varsity coach for the Centennial basketball program. A 2020 graduate of Forest Lake High School, she went on to attend Hamline University, where she majored in Mathematics and Education with a minor in Psychology.

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During her four years at Hamline, Coach Thompson was a dedicated member of the basketball team, contributing to multiple program records and helping elevate the standard of competition and culture within the program. Her collegiate experience fuels her passion for player development, teamwork, and the mental side of the game.

Before joining the Varsity staff, she spent three years coaching AAU basketball, working with athletes across various ages and competitive levels. This year marks her first season coaching in a Varsity program, where she brings energy, insight, and a strong commitment to helping student-athletes grow both on and off the court.

Coach Swanson is excited to join the Cougar staff this season. He enters his 37th year coaching girls basketball. He was a 2008-09 inductee in the MSHSL coaches Hall of Fame. 

Coach Swanson retired from teaching physical education and worked as an athletic director for two years.

He enjoys coaching  football (43 years), golfing, and spending time with family. Coach Swanson and his wife Denise have 2 adult children and one grandson.  

Coach Brecto serves as the Player Development Coach for the Centennial Girls Varsity Basketball program, joining the staff for his first year with the program. He brings two years of AAU coaching experience in Blaine, along with prior involvement in youth basketball, providing a strong foundation in athlete instruction, skill refinement, and mentorship.

Coach Brecto's coaching philosophy emphasizes preparing athletes for success both on and off the court. He is committed to building confident, resilient players who value discipline, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Outside of basketball, Coach Brecto is a dedicated husband and father to a 3 year old daughter.  

Coach Anderson is in his 5th year coaching the Centennial Girls B-Squad. He also serves as the Head Cross Country Coach for Centennial.

Coach Anderson has a strong passion to improve the lives of students every day. He has been teaching within the Centennial district at Pines school for the past eight years.

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Coach Anderson strives to make a positive impact on student athlete's lives through coaching. He enjoys seeing the tremendous progress each athlete makes during the year. He enjoys cultivating relationships with athletes and seeing them form strong team bonds amongst each other. 

Coach Stacey is a second year basketball coach working with our 8th grade travel team and our 9th grade team. 

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Graduating from Centennial High School in 2023, she pours herself into a program that shaped her growing up. She helped teach younger kids to love the game through In-House and summer camp and was proud to be part of a four-time state team as a player at Centennial.

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She is also a weights coach in the Cougar Strength program and helps young student athletes build strength and confidence in themselves and work together as a team. 

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In addition to her coaching career, she serves as a Special Education Paraprofessional at Blue Heron Elementary, supporting students in the classroom, learning life skills, and making meaningful connections every day. 

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Balancing all of these roles lets her give back to the community that raised her while helping the next generation grow both on and off the court.