Chris Richardson, a veteran assistant who has spent more than a decade on the North Kitsap Vikings staff, was named interim head football coach earlier this month, taking the reins ahead of the 2026 season. His appointment comes as the program looks to build on a 7‑3 record from 2025, a season that ended with a playoff loss to Burlington‑Edison.
Spring Preparations Underway
Spring football practice is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 1, and Richardson will lead all football activities throughout the spring and summer. The drills will focus on player development, scheme installation, and conditioning as the Vikings gear up for their season‑opening test.
The Vikings are set to open the 2026 campaign on September 4 at Black Hills, a matchup that will test the new coaching staff’s early adjustments. The schedule marks a return to competitive play after a promising but ultimately unfinished 2025 campaign.
District officials have not yet provided an update on Jeff Weible, the longtime head football and baseball coach who has been on leave from both his coaching and teaching duties. Weible, who has guided the football program since 2011 and amassed 151 football victories, remains a figure of interest for the community.
Richardson, who began his coaching journey as a volunteer under former head coach Steve Frease in 2010 and joined Weible’s staff in 2011, expressed excitement about the opportunity. He highlighted the team’s preparation, the enthusiasm of the players, and the chance to continue the program’s upward trajectory.