Alexander: A Talon and Trojan This may be the most unique coaching situation in football. David Alexander is the head coach of a professional team the Tulsa Talons of arena football2. Alexander also has become an assistant coach. At the high school level. For the Jenks Trojans. A former offensive lineman at the University of Tulsa and with the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets, Alexander has accepted an invitation to join Allan Trimbles staff and will work with offensive linemen. Arenafootball2 is an entry-level division of pro football, but it is still pro football. So it does seem remarkable that the Talons head man would take an assistants position on a high school team. Alexander is a lay coach at Jenks, with no classroom responsibility. I know that Allan Trimble is a very good high school football coach, the 41-year-old Alexander said. Maybe I can learn something from him. On Saturday night, Alexander and the Talons host Rio Grande. On Monday afternoon, Alexander and the Trojans begin their three-week spring practice period. If the Talons surge to the af2 championship contest in August, Alexander will juggle that game preparation with the Trojans preseason workouts. Hopefully, the (Jenks) kids will buy in and learn something from me, Alexander said. These kids all want to learn and get better. You just find the right buttons to push. Some kids need a hug and some need to be kicked in the pants. But they all want to please you and make you happy. In addition to the coaching jobs, Alexander has a thriving business, building custom homes. Before becoming the Talons coach last year, Alexander coached the Jenks eighth-graders for two seasons. Among Jenks top line prospects is 6-foot-1, 240-pound freshman Jake Alexander, Davids son. |