Desiree Allen is leaving her mark on Texas high school football
Photo Via NorthDallasBulldogs.com
Even though it’s becoming more common for women to coach football, some people still see them as outsiders.
In Texas, football is king, so when North Dallas High School's football program hired a full-time female coach, it was a groundbreaking move.
Desiree Allen is North Dallas’ cornerbacks and special teams coach.
Allen, 41, grew up in an army family, transferring from school to school. She attended three different high schools. However, one thing remained constant. She was a multi-sport athlete, playing basketball, softball, volleyball and ran track.
She then went on to attend the University of Texas at Dallas to play soccer, something that was new to her. Despite never playing before, she became talented enough to be named all-conference her senior year.
After graduation, Allen knew sports was something she enjoyed and wanted to continue in the sports arena with hopes of becoming an athletic coordinator.
Allen was first introduced to football after she started working for Dallas Independent School. She became the football team's video coordinator at Lincoln High School, and at Roosevelt.
She quickly developed an urge to play on the gridiron, so Allen joined a local women's football team in Dallas.
Because Allen lived just down the street from North Dallas High School, she chose to condition with the team to get ready for her season with the women's team.
After getting to know Allen while she conditioned with the team, former North Dallas head coach Charles Moss approached Allen about coaching.
Even though Allen had already been apart of the Lincoln and Roosevelt football team’s video coordinator, this offer was different; this was a coaching position.
She was a good teacher, Moss told SportsDayHS, and a good coach is a good teacher.
After Allen North Dallas hired Allen, rumblings began. Three coaches from an opposing team laughed when they learned about Allen joining the North Dallas coaching staff, and even some players were weary of the idea of having a female coach.
Everyone quickly learned that Allen was just as qualified as her male counterparts.
Moss left North Dallas for a college assistant job, and with the departure of Moss, this left a coaching gap in the offseason. That is when Allen stepped up and ran the team during the offseason by herself.
Becoming a female high school football coach in Texas was not the easiest for Allen, but she stuck with it and allowed her passion for coaching and the game prevail.
"There is so much opportunity," Allen said. "I think if more people start knocking on the door, the opportunity is there."
While Allen may be one of the few women coaches in Texas high school football, she joins the many others who are making their mark in the football world.
RELATED:
Collette Smith is latest woman to get a shot coaching in the NFL
Katie Sowers continues her coaching journey with 49ers