Redmond High’s football season has been over for a while now, but Mustang head coach Jason Rimkus will jump back onto the field next month as the defensive coordinator for the U.S. U16 football squad at the International Bowl in Arlington, Texas.

Mega-successful Bothell High head coach Tom Bainter, whose team won the 2014 4A state title and notched a 14-0 record and top-25 national ranking, will be the U.S.’s head coach and handpicked Rimkus to join him on the coaching staff. Rimkus played for Bainter at Bothell High and graduated in 2001.

“I feel lucky and honored that he chose me to go with him,” Rimkus said on Monday while overseeing his team running laps in the gym before hitting the weight room.

The U.S. vs. U16 Alberta, Canada, game will take place Feb. 5 at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Rimkus and Bainter will fly to Texas on Jan. 31 and their team will have seven practices and play in a jamboree before taking the field in their main game.

Overall, the International Bowl will feature games on Jan. 31, Feb. 3 and Feb. 5. Four U.S. national teams will join U.S. select teams to compete in a series of games against Canadian national teams. More than 500 top U.S. high school and junior high athletes will represent their country on the football field.

“It’s pretty cool, we have the top freshmen in the country on our team. Kids that started on high school teams in Florida, California and Alabama, from all over the country,” said Rimkus, who added that his team’s final roster hasn’t been solidified yet and he’s not sure if there are any Washington players on the squad.

“I was telling our booster club, it’s a cool honor for our school and our community to be able to represent them in that way,” Rimkus said.

Rimkus was ecstatic when Bainter called him out of the blue last week and asked him if he was interested in the coaching position. Rimkus has remained close with Bainter over the years and is looking forward to teaming up with him on the gridiron again. The Redmond coach said that Bainter is a genuine leader who cares for his players and knows how to get the most out of their athletic ability.

Rimkus said he tries to have the same approach as Bainter and he wants to leave a lasting impression on the U.S. players.

“I would like to walk away and the kids say, ‘Man, I hope my high school coach is like that guy,’” Rimkus said.

“Not just how much football we teach them, but the enthusiasm, how much you care about the kids and the level of detail that they learn.”