Northwest Notes Jan. 22, 2026

Former Viking Kastens takes assistant coaching job with Portland State football

Former Coeur d'Alene High lineman Alex Kastens was named the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Portland State, first-year head coach Chris Fisk announced.

Kastens worked alongside Fisk at Central Washington the past two seasons as offensive line coach.

"Alex is one of the top young offensive line coaches in college football," Fisk said in a news release. "His ability to develop linemen in the offseason and create a bond and brotherhood is impressive. I am looking forward to seeing that grow at Portland State."

Prior to working at Central Washington, Kastens coached two seasons at William Jewell College, a Division II program in Liberty, Mo. In his first season, he coached the offensive line and tight ends, then became offensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach.

Kastens was offensive line coach at University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., in 2020-21. 

Kastens began his coaching career with his alma mater, Carroll College in Helena, Mont., from 2015-19. He began as an assistant offensive line and tight ends coach, then became the defensive line coach, and finally added the head strength and conditioning coach and offensive line coach titles.

The Coeur d'Alene native played from 2010-14 for Carroll College, where he was a three-year starter as an offensive lineman and two-year team captain, earning All-Frontier Conference honors twice. Kastens helped guide the Fighting Saints to three straight Frontier Conference Championships and the 2011 NAIA national championship game and was also a redshirt member of the 2010 national championship team.