Alexander embraces new role in football

When Bishop McLaughlin football coach Matt Nardo stepped down unexpectedly last week to take a coaching position at Marietta (Ohio) College, it came as a shock to the Hurricane athletic department.

With a majority of their players returning from last year's 7-3 team, the best in the school's short history, the Bishop McLaughlin administration knew they needed to move fast to lock down a good coach. They needed somebody with great credentials that the kids could look up to for a smooth transition.

Enter Derrick Alexander.

The name may be familiar to football fans from Florida. After a storied career at Raines High School in Jacksonville, Alexander took his talents to Florida State University in 1992 to play for the legendary Bobby Bowden. He starred on the defensive line for the Seminoles, becoming a first team All-American in 1994.

Alexander gave up his senior year to declare for the NFL draft and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round. Alexander played four seasons with the Vikings and spent one season with the Cleveland Browns before retiring.

While being a head coach is new to Alexander, it's a role that he is ready to embrace.

"It's an opportunity to give back what I've learned from playing the sport of football." Alexander said. "In the beginning I was hoping to come in and help Coach Nardo and all of a sudden, things changed. The opportunity presented itself to help these kids. I got familiar with them in the spring, and I felt like I'd be able to help them, so here I am."

Alexander hopes to instill the coaching methods of the coaches he played for, from high school to the NFL.

"I've had some really good coaches, from high school with Freddie Stevens, then going to Florida State with Coach Bowden, and then going to the NFL with Dennis Green." he said. "I'm just going to try to take a little bit from all those guys, and teach these kids the fundamentals, but at the same time, have fun playing football."

In the Hurricanes, Alexander will inherit a team with plenty of talent, especially on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage. The new coach wasted no time identifying who his defensive leader might be.

"Without question, Zack Lockhart (6-1, 220 pounds) is going to be a defensive end, and I think he has potential to have a breakout season," Alexander said. "He's a hard worker with great hands and feet, and I think he's going to give opposing offenses a lot of problems."

Alexander also points to his defensive secondary as an area of strength. Jordan Betancourt, a cornerback, and Christian Nummy, are the leaders there. Those two will also be counted on to be playmakers on offense for the Hurricanes.

Offensively, the Alexander hopes to make it simple for the new starting quarterback. R.J. Perciavalle will only be a sophomore, but the new coach sees a lot of promise in his arm and his intelligence.

"He has all the leadership qualities to be a good quarterback, but he's young." said Alexander. "He might have some growing pains, but we're going to try to run the ball effectively and take the pressure off of him."

The Hurricane players have seemingly embraced their new coach. On a hot and humid summer morning, the whole squad was in attendance for a "voluntary" weightlifting and running session.