Wayne “Bubba” King III (Kickapoo, Karuk) serves as President of Pikship Athletics. Bubba has a passion for coaching athletics, and has coached youth basketball for seventeen years and youth baseball for ten years. His goal with Pikship Athletics is to help youth succeed in all aspects of life; academics, athletics, and their Native cultures.

Ruby King (Karuk, Yurok) serves as the Vice President of Pikship Athletics Inc. Ruby graduated with a BA in Psychology and with honors in Native American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, in May 2025.

Ruby’s background in academic research, community involvement, the philanthropic sector, and initiatives focused on well-being in Native communities enables her to leverage her knowledge and experience to support program oversight, development, organization, collaboration, and grant writing.

William Simms Sr. (Karuk, Hupa) serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Pikship Athletics Inc. With a deep passion for youth development and athletics, William has dedicated over a decade to coaching. He has coached youth football for four years and high school football for seven, in addition to nine years of coaching youth freestyle wrestling. William currently serves as the president of the Klamath Trinity Wrestling Club, where he continues to support and mentor young athletes in his community.

Phil Albers Jr. is a Karuk language teacher and cultural practitioner living in his Karuk Ancestral homelands. He graduated from Southern Oregon University with a Bachelor’s in Athletic Training and a Certificate in Native American Studies. Phil has competed in sports since he was 3 years old, playing soccer, baseball, football, volleyball, jujitsu, and MMA. Phil supports and encourages youth to explore and strengthen their Cultural identities through family support networks, and work towards success in all they do.

Nartel has a background in culinary arts and food service. His hope is to cultivate and educate promising athletes by giving them the tools they need to shepherd mind, body, and spirit. Nartel’s focus is on self care, athletic nutrition, and positive reinforcement.

I am Chook-Chook Hillman, Karuk Indian, community organizer, cultural biologist and youth basketball coach. I’ve been coaching since 2004 in the Orleans community. I believe that basketball helps develop characteristics beneficial to adulthood and moving in the world. Learning to be a part of a team is an invaluable asset to being a good family member, partner, coworker, and active community member. I care deeply for the health and well-being of my community. Basketball is one way of bringing all ages together to enjoy a healthy activity. As much as I am competitive in sports, what is much more important to me is helping the youth through difficult times, using basketball as a means for mental health and stability.

Tyler Mitchell (Yurok/Hupa) was born and raised in Hoopa, California and is a proud Yurok Tribal Member. Graduating from College of the Redwoods in 2012, Tyler went on to complete his Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Administration with a Minor in Native American Studies and Business Administration from Humboldt State University in 2014. He also received his Master of Arts Degree in Indigenous Education from Arizona State University in 2022.

Tyler currently works as a Guidance Technician for the Yurok Tribe Education Department at Hoopa Valley High School serving students in College and Career Readiness. He has also served as the High School Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach from 2017-2019 and helped coach rec league basketball, KT Little League Baseball, Hoopa 8th Grade Basketball, KT Warrior Elite AAU and Pikship Athletics AAU Basketball.

Tyler has skills with planning and organizing and works well with others. He enjoys working with students students and assisting them with mentorship and academic advising. Tyler’s main hobbies include fitness and nutrition, health and wellness, sports, outdoor activities, family time, travel, and reading.

Tyler has been involved with the Warrior Institute since 2010 and currently serves as Gym Manager. He has also participated in numerous WI activities working as the Outreach Coordinator. Some of which include Hoopa Warrior Camps, Hupa Crossfit, White Water Raft Guide School, Crossfit Certification CF-L1, Crossfit Specialty Weightlifting Certification, Warrior Institute Club, Social Activism at Standing Rock, Rios to Rivers Program and Raft Guide and Gym Trainer to local athletes.

Tyler is excited to be apart of the Pikship Athletics team and looks forward to making a positive difference for the local youth. He aspires to help serve his community and assist in providing opportunities to build others up. He believes in creating positive outlets in community, making connections, and building relationships.

Rena (Yurok) is the Pikship Athletics Volleyball coach. She coached at Orleans Elementary School for five years and led the team to its first ever tournament championship title in 2024, which received local news attention.

My name is Helena Star Gibbens I am a Yurok Tribal member from the village of Morek. I grew up along the Klamath River and have relied upon the river, the land and our community to provide a fundamental foundation for me and my family. During my time here on the river I have been an active member in my community and proudly participate in community and cultural practices, events, and ceremonies. I have a degree in Early childhood Education and I have had 15 years of experience providing support and care to the local youth and families. I have coached basketball, baseball and volleyball throughout the years and enjoy connecting and providing youth with the opportunity to learn and grow in the context of physical and social sports in academic and cultural spaces. I have worked toward and have a vested interest in the well-being of our youth, community and people. I believe when we create a solid foundation for our youth we are setting them up for success. I hope to and strive toward providing these opportunities with an emphasis on caring for our eco cultural resources, revitalization of our traditional practices and restoring our land and water so that our youth can grow up with a connection to their home a strong sense of self, and connection to their people and their land.