Frhs coaching staff

Coach Johannsen is in his 33rd year coaching and 25th as a head coach.  Johannsen has guided the SaberCat program since the 2004 inaugural season as well as teaching in the building.  In the 20 years at FRHS, eight teams have advanced to the sweet 16, one ending in the elite 8's, three trips to the state finals in the 13-14, 21-22 and the 22-23 seasons, as well as eight Player Of The Year recipients.  In his career, coach Johannsen has earned conference coach of the year five times as well as being selected 5A Colorado coach of the year once.  

Coach Johannsen is a retired educator and currently is a real estate agent for REMAX Alliance NOCO in Fort Collins.  

Johannsen has a Bachelor's Degree (Communications) from Ottawa University (Ottawa, KS), Master's Degree (Severe Affective Education) from Northern Colorado and post graduate work in Educational Leadership (Principal License) from Colorado State.  A proud product of Poudre School District who has lived in Fort Collins for 50 years, Johannsen's ties to the community run deep.  "I want to be part of making basketball in Northern Colorado better!"

Coaching Philosophy:  "Relationships are #1.  I learned how important that phrase is and how it applies in all phases of life when I was playing college.  I try to bring that same mentality to everything we do program wide - on and off the court." 

Coach Ackelson has been on the SaberCat coaching staff since 2013.  He is a 2008 graduate of FRHS and helped to build the program from day 1.  During his career at Fossil Ridge, Ackelson was a two time first team all-conference selection as well as being named conference player of the year his senior year.  In his collegiate career he was selected NJCAA Region 9 all-conference his sophomore year as well as honorable mention all-conference his senior year at Mount Marty college.

Coach Ackelson holds a BA (Business Administration) from Mount Marty College where he also previously served as an assistant coach.  

Coaching Philosophy: "Do the little things and play with passion!"

Coach Pedroza enters his 5th year on staff for the SaberCats.  He has coached the Junior SaberCat squads, D Team, C Team and now moves to JV head coach.  

During his high school career, coach Pedroza was selected team captain twice on two of the teams he played on.  

Pedroza is a graduate of Colorado State (Exercise Science).

Coaching Philosophy: "WE before ME.  Basketball is a platform that teaches us many life lessons."