We are thrilled to introduce Neil Elshire as the next head football coach at Madras High School. He has had a remarkable background that includes playing college football at the University of Oregon and gracing the NFL field as a Minnesota Viking for several seasons. He comes to us after serving as the defensive coordinator for the Caldera High School Football team in Bend.
“What I found out over time is that hard work means fun,” Elshire said. “If I work really hard at something then I can have success at it and I did have a lot of success and in the process, I met a lot of really fun people and had a lot of fun. Football is a game which means we’re playing to have fun and I have always had fun at something I put my time and effort into that I worked hard at.”
Coach Elshire brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our football program. With more than three decades of coaching experience at the high school level, he embodies a commitment to excellence and a passion for developing student-athletes both on and off the field. We are confident that under his leadership, our football team will flourish in the years to come under the guidance of coach Elshire.
“If you learn how to work hard and you learn how to work together and you do your job and you learn how to be accountable to a lot of people, you can learn a lot more about life,” he said.
Elshire met with prospective football players in early May so they could meet their new head coach. One of his specific goals for the players is simple.
“We’re going to have fun,” he said. “We’re going to work hard and have fun and let the chips fall where they may the first year but we want to win some games.”
MHS Football has not qualified for the state playoffs since the 21-22 school year, and Elshire is planning on changing that.
“Our goal every year will be to get to the playoffs and this year is no different,” he said. “We want to get to the playoffs because anything can happen at that point.
When not coaching, Elshire loves to play a round of golf or hit the mountain to ski. He is a father to five kids.