Meet The Blue Valley North Basketball Coaches


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Ryan Phifer

Head Varsity Coach


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Ryan Phifer - Head Coach - (18th Year) Coach Phifer is from North Platte, Nebraska. After high school, he attended Mid-Plains Community College and played basketball for the Knights while earning his Associate of Arts Degree. Next, he attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and played basketball for the Huskers from 1996-1998. Coach Phifer received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree and earned a Master’s in Education Degree from the University of Nebraska.

After graduation he taught math and coached multiple sports at Lincoln Southeast High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was the boys’ basketball varsity assistant for four seasons and the junior varsity coach for three seasons. He was also the head girls’ golf coach for three seasons.

During his time at Lincoln Southeast High School, the team qualified for the state tournament every season and he was able to coach three players that were named the Player of the Year in Nebraska along with several All-State players.

In 2006 Coach Phifer became the head coach for the Blue Valley North Mustangs. He has helped guide the Mustangs to seven state tournament appearances in his 17 seasons. They finished 3rd place in 2010 and 2012, 2nd Place in 2014, and 4th Place in 2017 and 2023. In 2020, they were in the Final Four before the season was suspended by Covid. In 2021, he led the Mustangs to the State Championship, which was the 2nd State Title in school history. He was named Eastern Kansas League Coach of the Year in 2014 and was named Kansas 6A Coach of the Year in 2021. In 2021 he was also named the GKCBCA Eddie Ryan Coach of the Year for Kansas.

His teaching duties include Strength and Conditioning 1 and 2. He is married to Michelle who also teaches in the Blue Valley District.

Together they have two children, Ayden (17) and Jace (14).


Brandon Clifford

Junior Varsity Coach


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Coach Clifford was born and raised in the Northeast Arkansas area, where he graduated from class 5A Paragould High School. There, he played basketball as a 3-year starter and broke the scoring record at 1,637 points. After high school, He then moved to Kansas to attend Pittsburg State University and play basketball for the Gorillas from 2016-2018. Next, he attended Baker University and played basketball for the Wildcats where he was the leading scorer in ppg from 2018-2020. At Baker University, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education and is now teaching PE and Strength & Conditioning at Blue Valley North. He is also involved with coaching MoKan basketball during the summers. He is an assistant Football and Golf coach here at BVN. He is married to Lauren whom he met at Pittsburg State, and they now live in Overland Park with their German Shepherd, Toby.


Cole Silsby

JV/Varsity Assistant


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Coach Cole was born and raised in Wellsville, KS, where he attended Wellsville High School from 2011-2015. During Coach Cole’s high school career, he had 2 3A state basketball tournament appearances where he took 3rd place in 2015. He was a 3x All State champion for basketball and a 2x All State champion for football. After high school, Coach Cole continued his basketball career in college. He attended Bethel College, Allen CC, as well as Baker University with the major of Sports Administration. During the day Coach Cole works for Olsson Engineering. He is also founder/program director for the KC Kings Elite basketball team and head coach for the 18U KC Kings.

Shannon Cordes

Sophomore Coach


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Coach Shannon Cordes graduated from Washburn University where he received a Marketing/Finance degree and played basketball under Coach Ballard for 3 seasons. Before transferring to Washburn, he played one season at Neosho CC and one season at Hesston CC. Shannon is from Lawrence, Kansas and attended Free State High School. He was a member of the all-league team helping the Firebirds to a third-place finish at the state tournament under coach Sam Stroh.

Keilon Hunter

Freshmen A Coach


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Coach Hunter is from Kansas City, Missouri and is an alum of BVN. He played under Coach Phifer from 2013-2017. This run included two state tournament appearances, a second place finish in ‘14, a fourth place finish in ‘17, and an EKL league championship in ‘14. Coach Hunter was an all conference performer in ‘16 and ‘17. Coach Hunter was also a part of the BVN football team where they were EKL football champions in 2015. He was an all conference performer in ‘15 and ‘16 and was honorable mention for the All State teams. Coach Hunter holds the record for most career interceptions (11) and was also awarded the Time Warner Cable Play of The Year in 2015. Coach Hunter went on to play football at Northwest Missouri State where he was a 3x MIAA Champion. He Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management in Marketing in 2021 and obtained his Masters degree in Business Administration in 2022. Coach Hunter works for C.H. Robinson during the day and is married to Makaelyn whom he met at Northwest. They have a mini bernedoodle named Vivi.

Rick Wasinger

Freshmen B Coach


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Coach Wasinger is beginning his 8th year coaching the freshman B team. Coach Wasinger grew up in Russell Kansas where he participated in football, basketball, baseball and track receiving HM All State honors in football as a receiver and all state mile runner in track. He attended college at the University of Kansas with a Bachelor's Degree in education. Coach Wasinger also holds two Master's Degrees from Baker University with degrees in School Administration & Sports Management. He teaches business classes here at Blue Valley North and has coached football (3 state championship apperances and one state championship), baseball and golf (One state championship). He is the proud father of two sons, Cooper (19) attends the University of Kansas Majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Carson (17) a senior here at Blue Valley North. Carson is a member of the BVN varsity baseball team.