COACHES

Chris Varner is from Ventura California where he graduated from Buena high school.  After high school, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell Kentucky. After the military, he attended Ventura Community College for his undergraduate then transferred to The Master’s College (now University) where he received his degree in history as well as his teaching credential. 

 

Coach Varner began his coaching career in 1997 with the Ventura Packers youth football organization and then moved on to high school coaching at Buena high school.  In 2003 he became part of Canyon high school’s coaching staff under legendary California coach Harry Welch.   In 2004 Coach Varner was hired full-time as a history teacher at Canyon high school and from 2005 to 2006 he was the JV head football coach.  In 2007 he became the head varsity coach at the age of 29 and stayed in that position until 2010.

 

Coach Varner stepped away from coaching high school to focus more attention on his family and began coaching his two sons in youth sports.  Coach Varner and his wife adopted two young girls in 2012 and gave birth to their 5th child in 2013.  After his Canyon coaching career ended he became the Advanced Placement Psychology teacher for the school.  He has spent a significant amount of time working on a curriculum that enables students to focus on the benefits of healthy living and mindfulness to live their best lives.

 

In 2016 the Head coaching position at West Ranch high school was vacated and Coach Varner thought it was time for him to get back to his first love.  In his 6 seasons as the head coach, he has amassed a school-record 37 wins with 6 playoff game appearances and 3 playoff wins including a semifinal appearance in 2019. 

 

In 2017, his oldest daughter was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis with has led to the family being heavily involved in raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. For the last two years, the Varner’s team for the Great Strides event had the largest amount of volunteer walkers that the organization had seen.

 

Coach Varner credits his faith and his amazing wife Candice with holding together a very busy but full life and he could not be prouder of his 5 kids… Austin 17, Colt 16, Audrey 11, Piper 10, and Darcie 9.

 

Coach Varner would like to thank every Wildcat fan for their support and appreciates the opportunity he has been given at West ranch.