The road to becoming a college football coach often involves years of dedication on and off the field. In a recent video interview, running backs coach Alex Delgado shares his unlikely path from playing high school and JUCO ball in El Paso, Texas to eventually landing assistant coaching jobs in the NCAA.

Coach Delgado discusses growing up in a border town and using sports as an outlet and opportunity for growth. After two years at community college, he transferred to Auburn University to complete his degree. However, when graduation came, the pandemic derailed his initial plans to jump right into coaching.

Delgado persevered through working camps and volunteering until finally getting his foot in the door as a student assistant at Florida State. There he soaked up knowledge from the Seminoles’ defensive staff while also earning his master’s degree.

The conversation provides insight into the relentless effort and relationship-building required to catch your first break. Coach emphasizes finding players who match the program’s culture and taking an honest approach with their parents about the realities of recruiting.

There are no straight lines to success, but Coach Delgado’s path that led him from the border to the sidelines captures the twists and turns it takes to achieve your goals. His journey shows that through hard work and perseverance, you can overcome obstacles and eventually land your dream job.