​Dankenbring, Bailey return to Eagles football as assistant coaches in 2025

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News


Two former Grain Valley players said they wanted to give back to the program that helped shape who they are today.

Grain Valley 2020 graduate Seth Dankenbring and 2021 graduate Jack Bailey have returned to serve as assistant coaches. Dankenbring will help coach the linebackers while Bailey will focus on helping the offensive line.

“(Head) Coach (David) Allie and the staff are so welcoming,” said Dankenbring. “To have the opportunity to coach with my previous coaches is such an honor. Being back in Grain Valley is all I could ask for. I love the town, and I love the people.”

Added Bailey: “I wanted to give back to the program that gave me so much. I just love the culture here and I love Grain Valley.”

Dankenbring said growing up he always wanted to be a teacher and a coach and is getting his start with the Eagles. He said he enjoys teaching young players how to play football and to encourage them to be active in the gym.

He said he is still getting used to being a coach and is adjusting his style depending on the situation and the players he works with.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity,” Dankenbring said. “I still finding my groove. I am still fresh to it. I think there are some days I am a little high strung and some days I am a little more relaxed. I am here for the kids.”

He will work with a deep linebacker group that includes seven varsity level players, including first-team, all-Suburban White Conference linebacker Hunter Nally.

“I am looking forward to it,” Dankenbring said. “They are a super talented group with a lot of potential. We just got to put some things together.”

Bailey will work with Tarrants to coach the offensive line. He said he viewed Tarrants as a mentor and looks forward to working with him.

“It is an adjustment to work alongside someone you have looked up to for so long,” said Bailey, who is currently a student at Baker University. “He taught me that there is so much with football that translates to normal life. That pretty much sums it up for me. Football is life.”

Bailey said he has a passion for working with the offensive line and will be working with an experienced group that returns four starters from the 2024 team.

“The brotherhood of the offensive line brought me back here in the first place,” Bailey said. “I loved it when I was a player. Enjoying it from the other side is nice, too.

​“It makes it easier talking to those guys because it’s like having extra coaches on the field. I think the offensive line looks good. We’ll be ready to go and ready to win some football games.”
 
 
 

Front Grain Valley football player Seth Dankenbring returns to the program as a linebacker coach. Photo credit: Michael Smith
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Former Grain Valley player Jack Bailey will return to the Eagles as an assistant coach as he will help with the offensive line. Photo credit: Michael Smith
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