Chris Crowl
Junior Varsity Head Coach
Coach Crowl has spent thirty-two years coaching high school football. His first four were at Marcos De Niza in Tempe and the past 28 years at Desert Vista. Currently, he has coached both the freshman and JV levels. He has been an offensive and defensive coordinator and most recently has served as the head JV coach for the past 25 years. Also, Coach Crowl is the head Varsity Softball coach as well the Freshman Wrestling coach and teaches in the school’s PE department.
Coach Crowl earned his BAE at Arizona State University where he worked as an equipmentmanager with the football team and other athletic programs. He has a Masters degree inEducational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. He has taught Physical Educationfor nine years in the Kyrene School District and works with Coach C in the summer weight training programs. Coach Crowl and his wife, Sam have two children: Johanna, twenty-four-year-old who recently graduated from American University and is also a graduate of Desert Vista High School in 2017. Currently, she is a legal assistant at Simpson and Thatcher Law Office in Washington DC. His son James, twenty-two years old, who is a senior at Northern Arizona University and also a graduate of Desert Vista High School in 2020.
John Rivera
JV Defensive Coordinator
My name is John Rivera. I am a former Desert Vista football player and graduate. This is my 5th year coaching football. I am extremely passionate about coaching, teaching, and learning all there is to know about the game of football. I want to do my part in helping build a culture and attitude of hard work, discipline, and accountability. My goal is to one day be an outstanding collegiate defensive coordinator!
Theodore Vigenser
JV Offensive Line/Defensive Line
Mark Smith
JV Defensive Backs and Wide Receivers
Coach Smith graduated Desert Vista in 2013. He was the starting strong safety on the 2011 State championship football team here at DV. Coach Smith specializes in Defensive back/Wide receiver training along with strength and conditioning. He spent 1 year coaching for AIT ( Athletes in Training) which helps develop young kids K-5 choose a sport they love, learn the rules and start training for that sport. He was recruited back to his hometown high school to help bring passion and fire to DV sports. He was the DB/WR coach for the 2022 freshmen football team. Immediately after he gained the trust from his fellow coaches where he was offered the assistant wrestling coach job at Akimal middle school for the 2022 season where he fell in love with a new sport and plans to return. His name quickly recommended to the DV girls flag football teams head coach where he was hired on to coach DBs/WRs for 2023 spring season. Coach Smith was brought up to the JV level for the 2023 boys football season where he continues to coach DBs/WRs. Coach Smith trains multiple DV athletes outside of the season and is very involved in his athletes schooling and training.
James Crowl
JV Wide Receivers and Defensive Backs