MEET THE COACHES
Head Coach - Jack Hillesheim
Coach Jack first started skiing at the age of 3 in Montana when visiting family and this sparked a life-long passion. Jack started racing in 7th grade for the Buck Hill Ski Team and has experience racing High School, USSA, FIS, and NorAm. He was listed as a Top-10 Skier to watch by the Pioneer Press as a Senior. He also raced for Gustavus while in college.
Jack came to Eden Prairie in 2024-2025 season as an assistant coach and in the 2025 - 2026 season was named head coach. Previously, he coached for the Holy Angels Alpine Ski Team for 4 years and he also spent 2 years in Germany working as a ski instructor for the Department of Defense. While working in Germany, he received PSIA Level 2 certification.
Outside of skiing Jack works as an Account Manager in the healthcare industry. He has a love of staying active, traveling, and cooking. He still plays old-man soccer each week, has traveled to 40 countries and counting, and can be found trying new recipes with his wife Mauli.
SLP Coaching Staff - Dan Swanson
Dan Swanson is a former professional cyclist and high school alpine ski racer. He continues to share his love of biking racing as an Assistant Coach for the St. Louis Park Mountain Bike Team.
Dan’s interests in mountain biking and skiing drew him to Montana State University where he earned a degree in Business Management. During his time in Bozeman, Dan helped the Bobcats earn multiple top 5 finishes at collegiate cycling nationals. In the winter, after class and studying, he could be found making turns at Bridger Bowl.
In 2001, Dan returned to the Twin Cities to work for the construction company his grandfather founded. As an accomplished cyclist he continued racing in various disciplines and earned multiple Minnesota State Champion titles. As an all around adventure enthusiast and third generation owner, Dan enjoys working on projects that combine both his professional and recreational passions such as the SLP Connect the Parks Project, initial 25 miles of the Cuyuna State Recreation MTB trails, as well as the Eden Prairie, Rockford, Eagan, and Totino-Grace High School athletic fields.
A champion of Mandatory Family Fun, Dan cultivates joy through adventures skiing, hiking, or biking, with his partner, two kids, and a Boston Terrier named Gatsby.
EP/SLP Coaching Staff - Nate Springer
Coach Nate started skiing when he was six years old at Hyland Hills on a Cub Scout trip. Since learning how to ski he has worked as a Professional Ski Instructor of America at numerous ski areas including Hyland Hills, Spirit Mountain, Beaver Creek and Buck Hill. Nate attended the University of Minnesota Duluth and was part of UMD’s Alpine Ski Team. While skiing at UMD he was able to be a part of numerous USCSA National qualifying teams. Nate started coaching High School Skiing in college and has coached at three different high schools since. Nate coached in Duluth from 2001 to 2007 and has been with Eden Prairie Alpine since the 2008-2009 season. He also is a member of the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association and sits on the advisory panel to the MSHSL for Alpine Skiing. Nate also is a certified USSA Official and Coach.
Nate attributes his love of coaching to being able to work with great young people who want to push themselves on the hill. He loves the moments when a young athlete discovers a skill for the first time. Nate’s purpose as a coach is to inspire athletes to have a great work ethic, with the grit to be able to work through struggles and challenges all while being honest with themselves and others. All these things he believes will create universal respect for the sport and the environment in which we compete.
When Nate isn’t on the snow he works for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as a Park Manager and Wildland Firefighter. He enjoys spending time with his family, camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, spending time on the lake and going to concerts with his wife. Nate also enjoys playing “old man” softball and cooking good BBQ on the smoker.
EP/SLP Coaching Staff - Kelsey Klein
Coach Kelsey learned how to ski when she was the tender age of 5 years old. In 5th grade she started racing on the Buck Hill D-team and transitioned to the Buck Hill USSA team a handful years after that. She also raced for the now defunct Shakopee-Prior Lake high school team from 7th-12th grade. Kelsey heard a "rumor" that Prior Lake actually has their own team these days! When she wasn't racing on the hill she was teaching in the ski school. This is her fourth year coaching with Eden Prairie and she hopes to continue to bring the sparkle. Before coaching with EP she was a coach for the Buck Hill D-team.
Off the ski hill she enjoys getting outside and being as active as possible. She still plays soccer regularly and also took up softball and kickball as an adult. If she isn't out leading a team to co-rec victory, she is likely golfing, biking, or out on the lake. For any Badger fans out there, she is a proud alumna and could be categorized as a little extra when it comes to her fandom. She currently resided in Edina with her husband and two dogs.