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Wesley Chapel taps Ben Alford as football coach

Staff photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Former Pasco High quarterback Ben Alford will lead the Wildcats. Alford, 25, replaces John Castelamare, who opened the program in 1999.

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By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: February 8, 2010

The search for a new football coach at Wesley Chapel is over.

Monday night, athletic director Steve Mumaw announced former Pasco High quarterback Ben Alford will lead the Wildcats. Alford, 25, replaces John Castelamare, who opened the program in 1999.

"Not only can he can help the kids that want to go on to further their education at a higher level, but he also brings a youthful energy with him," Mumaw said. "He wants to get in there and show then how to do it and he's willing to work hard to get to that point."

Alford, who played at Pasco from 1999-2002, understands there will be those who question his youth, but having seen the game as a player, coach and official, he's used to the criticism.

"I've played football for 17 years," said Alford, who played at North Iowa Area Community College and later at Iowa Western. "I've been around the game all my life. I don't think that you necessarily have to be a coach for 10 years to know how to be a good coach.

"I don't think any head coach regardless of 10, 15, two or one year of coaching is ever ready to be a head coach. There's always going to be a learning curve. There are things you have to learn. That's any job. You get teachers coming straight out of college going into a classroom of 30 high school kids."

During Alford's senior season with the Pirates, his 1,678 passing yards and 24 touchdowns set a Pasco High single-season record. He went to start at North Iowa Area Community College, where, as a sophomore, he accounted for more than 2,000 yards of offense and 20 touchdowns. That earned him Midwest Football Conference West Division offensive player and quarterback of the year, and a first-team all-region honoree. Alford was also selected as a NJCAA honorable mention All-American. He later had a Canadian Football League tryout and played indoor football.

There are still loose ends to tie up in Iowa.

Alford must sell his house and get his wife, Ashley, and two boys – Brayton and Taylen - to Florida. He said he will make that move "ASAP".

Before catching an early flight Tuesday, Alford will meet with his new players at Wesley Chapel. As for the Pasco-Wesley Chapel rivalry, Alford said he didn't even think of it when considering the job. It was all about returning home and helping.

"It's about me getting a job and getting to a school to be able to help kids out," Alford said. "Help kids play football and get their education. It's not about what the rivalry is. I just want to be able to help kids at Wesley Chapel to be able to do things outside of football and high school. It's about them.

"It's not going to be weird to me at all. I love coaching football, I love being around football. I honestly haven't really thought about the Pasco-Wesley Chapel rivalry."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 259-7066.

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