Meet Coach Virden!

Football has been a big part of Dr. Virden’s life,  He played Pop Warner football in Whittier, Ca, and For the Sierra High School Spartans. He then  went on to play college football for Rio Hondo College where he was named first team All –Conference Wide Receiver. Dr. Virden then transferred to prestigious Occidental College and was Voted to the All SCIAC first team as a receiver. His senior season he was one of the nation’s small colleges leading wide receivers.  He averaged nearly 8 receptions per game and 112 yards per game.  This gave him his teams Most Valuable Player Award.  Dr. Virden has always felt that athletics and competition have played a pivotal role in developing his attitude and work ethic.


Dr. Virden , after completing his Medical degree from the prestigious USC Keck School of Medicine, began the long and grueling career as a general Surgery resident and then additional training to become a plastic surgeon. During his residency he steered his own three boys to the football field, to enjoy with them the joy of football. Dr. Virden assistant coached his son Matthew’s team while finishing his residency at the UC San Diego Medical Center. There he coached for The Rancho Bernardo Pop Warner League.  Dr. Virden  then moved to Reno to begin his own private practice. He Assistant Coached his middle son, Tyler’s teams in the Reno Pop Warner divisions. “I felt it was important to be a part of my son’s experiences and to enjoy teaching the team work and the rewards of dedication and careful mastery of fundamentals”. 

When his youngest son Trent began at the age of seven, Dr. Virden took over as the Head Coach of the Reno Pop Warner Wolf Pack.  This core group of young men had an unbelievable run over the next 10 years. “Families became life long friends, the love of those years and the memories are priceless to us all”.  He had a super group of assistant coaches, who were also Dads, enjoying the boys. Coaches like Mike York, Mike Talbott, Mike Stewart, Bob Davies, Dave Lundy, Joe Matthews, Steve Reed, Todd Roberts, Zianne Vasquez and Darwin English.  “These men and women were tremendous character developers and great role models for our young men, I will always be grateful to have had these years together with them.”  Over the first seven years, the Wolfpack garnered quite reputation, winning the Pop Warner League Championship in every year they competed. They amassed a record of 63-3. Winning 4 Snow Bowl Championships, 2 Pacific Northwest Regional Championships, and two well deserved trips to the Pop Warner Super Bowl where they took third place in the nation, and completed a 5-2  record in nationally competed games. Dr. Virden was twice named Pop Warner Coach of the year.

When his core group of the Wolfpack joined the already acclaimed McQueen High School in Reno’s Northwest area, Dr. Virden was invited to join the McQueen Football staff where he has coached the last several years.  His “PACK” became Lancers and went on in their 4 years to have 3 undefeated seasons as freshman, JV’s and seniors. As juniors they went 12-2 losing to Bishop Gorman High School in the Nevada 4-A State Championship.  This incredible group of young men at McQueen went on to become the 2008 Nevada 4A State Champions with a perfect 14-0 season.  Dr. Virden Assistant Coached with the talented staff of Ken Dalton, Jim Snelling, Greg Baxter, Mark Zimmerman and Carl Lagrone.  “It was so fitting to see these young men receive the prize they so worked for, defeating an extremely talented and undefeated  Palo Verde team from Las Vegas.  Dr. Virden has had the pleasure to have coached All-State players, All Northern Division players and All League players.   All in all his coaches and players that have been affiliated with Dr. Virden have amassed an astounding record of 107-6. Dr. Virden has also put his share of sutures in these athletes over the years.