State coach associations are an invaluable resource, allowing coaches the opportunity to come together to communicate on key issues affecting the game, build relationships and further their careers.

For Mark DelPercio, involvement with his local state football coach association paved the way for him to pursue a dream a thousand miles away.

The former Middeltown High School (Del.) head coach credits his leadership role with the Delaware Football Coaches Association with helping him make connections in the state of Texas.

“Being involved in our state coaches association has allowed me the opportunity to network and get to know Texas high school football coaches,” DelPercio told USA Football.

This networking allowed the coach to land a job in Texas, a state that DelPercio believes has an unparalleled amount of passion, resources and dedication to the sport of football.

DelPercio, who also attended the 2016 USA Football National Conference, will start as an assistant coach at Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas later this month.

RELATED: Merril Hoge wraps up USA Football National Conference with powerful, inspiring message

After achieving an impressive amount of success in Delaware—which has less than 50 total high school football teams—DelPercio will hone his skills as a coach in a state that has more than 1,200 11-person football squads.

A high school coach traveling across the country for a different coaching position is rare. DelPercio understands there are challenges that await him, but that only adds to his excitement.

“I will be arriving in a new area with new rules and new teams - these hurdles are opportunities to get better, learn more and network with more guys in our coaching brotherhood,” he said.

This ability to network is something that DelPercio finds to be ingrained in the profession. He believes that coaches who are not taking advantage of these opportunities are not open to growth.

Beyond just networking, he has some simple advice for coaches who might be curious about exploring high school coaching jobs in different states.

“Work hard, stay focused on your current job and be willing to take advice from others,” DelPercio said.

This situation is a reminder that while networking is important an all professions, it an essential part of coaching. Be active in your state coach association to learn from and build relationships with others. It could pay off down the road.