Basketball, girls

Centennial High School welcomes Jason Wirtz as the Girls’ Varsity Basketball Head Coach.

Jason Wirtz has been named the next head coach to lead the Centennial High School Girls’ Basketball program. “Coach Jason Wirtz brings over 15 years of basketball coaching experience with him, but more importantly, his coaching philosophy aligns with the Centennial School District vision and mission,” says Matt St. Martin, Centennial High School Director of Athletics and Activities. “Jason believes that the values learned from participating in education based athletics allow student-athletes to grow as individuals.”

Jason and his family reside in Circle Pines. Most recently, Wirtz served as the Blaine High School Junior Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach and Varsity Assistant Coach. Jason was recognized for his unparalleled commitment and dedication to the Blaine Girls’ Basketball program by receiving the Section 7AAAA Assistant Coach of the Year Award in both 2020 and 2023. Wirtz stated, "I am incredibly honored to lead the Centennial Girls’ Basketball program. This is a community with deep pride and strong tradition, and I look forward to building something special together. We are not just forming a team, we are setting a standard.”

In addition to Jason’s strong coaching background, he is also a committed educator in the classroom, serving as a special education teacher in the Mounds View School District. Both his coaching and educational experience equip Jason with the skills to support student-athletes holistically.

Wirtz stated, "Becoming the head coach at Centennial is an exciting next step for me, not just professionally but personally. This is a community I care deeply about, and I am ready to pour my heart into building something lasting. I look forward to connecting with our student-athletes, staff, and families as we create a culture that brings pride to our school and inspires future generations."

“Coach Wirtz will be an incredible asset to our coaching staff and school community as a whole” says Matt St. Martin, Director of Athletics and Activities.

The Centennial Girls’ Basketball program fosters the growth of the young ladies in our community in the areas of basketball, leadership, and service.

The Centennial Girls’ Basketball program participates in the Northwest Suburban Conference and Class AAAA Section 7 competition. The Centennial Girls’ Basketball program tries to field 4 levels of play (Varsity, Junior Varsity, B-Squad, and 9th grade). Depending on the number of students that try out, cuts may need to happen to establish rosters at each level of play.

• Players are expected to attend all practices and games
  • Unexcused absences will result in players forfeiting their opportunity to play in the following game
  • A 2nd unexcused absence will result in a meeting with the player and family to determine whether or not the player will continue with our program
• Consequences for excused absences will be determined based on the situation and reason for the excused absence.
• Students must be in all your classes ALL day to participate in co-curricular activities after school unless your absence has been excused per the school district’s attendance policy. 10 minutes late to class is considered being truant that hour.
• To participate in PRACTICE, players must be in school by 11:00 am or have an excused absence per the school district’s attendance policy. 
• To participate in a GAME, players must be in school all day unless the absence is excused per the school district’s attendance policy.

Lettering Criteria

• You must be a member of the Varsity/JV (player or manager).

• You must complete the season in good standing from beginning to end in order to be considered for a letter or participation certificate.

• If found in violation, or serving a violation, of any Minnesota State High School League rules from the beginning of the season to the end, you forfeit your lettering opportunity.

• The coaching staff has the ultimate and final say.