After a lengthy process of seeking a new football coach, Monroe High School will hire a man with more than 15 years of college football coaching experience to lead the Bearcats in their 2008 season.

Dave Telford graduated from Stanwood High in 1984 where he had played football, and he continued his career into college. He played two years for Spokane Falls Community College, then two more at Fresno State University in California.

After graduating, he stayed around to coach, until he follwed the team's defensive coordinator to Montana State University. After three years in Montana, he returned to Fresno State to take a positon as the receiving coach, then went to Eastern Washington University for three years, where he served as a quarterback coach before becoming the offensive coordinator.

He then found a more enduring home at Portland State University, where he stayed until 2004, when he decided to go back to college and earn his teaching certificate.
He finished that about a year ago, and took a teaching position in North Carolina, where a sister lives. But it was too far away from the place his son, Hunter, 8, considers home, so the single dad decided to return to the Northwest. When he learned that a coaching position was open in Monroe, he immediately decided to apply.

"Monroe was where I wanted to be for a lot of reasons," he said. "One, I really liked what I saw of this football program. The other thing is, I love the size of the town and the central location." Hunter's extended family lives throughout the area as well.

Telford took a job teaching math at Leaders in Learning and interviewed for the coach's position. "There was a slew of other coaches who applied," said Rosemary O'Neil, spokesperson for the school district. "There was a group of folks that were top candidates and he was one of them."

Monday night, as The Monitor went to press, the school board was expected to confirm his appointment as coach.

Although the Bearcats have struggled for years, Telford thinks he can improve the team.
"I watched all the games but one," said Telford. "Obviously the scores weren't encouraging, but there was a lot of encouraging things to watch."

Attitude makes a huge difference in coaching, he said. "Whether you're teaching or coaching, it's 90% about believing in the people," he said. "If I don't believe he can even do it, how can I teach him right? But if I believe that person can learn, I'll find ways to help him learn. That's key, finding ways to get the message across."

Former coach Steve Hannan, who led the team for three years, was let go by the district last year because of flagging student interest in the football program.

"I don't know why they finished with so few players," said Telford. "What's missing? I don't know. We'll find out."

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