In his career, Ty Detmer has played many roles, including Brigham Young University Quarterback, Heisman winner, NFL quarterback, college coach and now American Leadership Academy Queen Creek head coach. Detmer, who has gained years of experience, brought his expertise to the 8-2 East Valley school three years ago. During his time as head coach, he has built a program so strong it has risen from 4A to 6A in a quick three seasons. Despite his wealth of game knowledge his philosophy is not just game-based but takes on a wider approach of shaping resilient young men. For him, football is about something bigger.  

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“They’re having an experience here in high school where they’re learning some life lessons, you get knocked down and get back up. You kind of take it one play at a time one game at a time and you learn to overcome mistakes, you learn to persevere and push through. Even if you’re not playing or a starter, you’re learning how to be accountable to a team and to show up and work hard,” Detmer said. 

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Detmer, who was once BYU’s offensive coordinator, has made the switch from coaching college to high school. Although some may find the move to a lower-level odd, he knows he is in the place for him.  

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“I enjoy that age of kid, they’re still moldable, you can still teach them some things. When you get to college and the NFL it’s a little more managing egos and those kinds of things where in high school, they’re still learning life lessons how to be a man hopefully when they come in as fourteen-year-old knuckleheads they leave as young men ready to move on and know what they want to do in life,” Detmer said. 

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Detmer made a name for himself as quarterback at BYU where he broke NCAA records and won the Heisman in 1990. Now 33 years later, his starting quarterback and BYU-commit Enoch Watson intends to follow in his footsteps. Watson, who has been in Detmer’s program since February, appreciates his coaching style. 

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“He always pushes us to be the best version of ourselves, not just with football but with the stuff outside of football like school and just being young men, he’s a great leader,” said the senior.  

Watson’s favorite target Jayden Williams has been coached by Detmer for the last three years. Williams, who has grown up in the program, expressed his gratitude for having a coach like Detmer and praised his leadership. 

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“I admire that not everything for him is just football-related. How he talks to us as individuals he tries to build up our character not just with football but with our school life and our family life,” said Williams.  

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For Detmer, that’s what it’s all about. He wants his players to leave as men ready for life after football.  

“You kind of get to know them on a personal level,” said Detmer. “To see them come in as goofy freshmen, then grow up a little bit, set some goals and have some aspirations to do things outside of sports, for me it's fun to get to know them on that side of things.” 

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Williams has taken away a lot more from this program than just becoming a better athlete, he is looking ahead to his future. 

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“I learned that life doesn’t just revolve around football, there are so many other things that you need to be successful in life to have a good outcome. Football is not what you need to revolve your life around but you need to learn how to function by yourself in life so you can become successful when you’re older,” said the wide receiver.  

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As Detmer finishes his third season at ALA-Queen Creek in the coming month, he looks to continue his team’s 6A reign into the Open division playoffs where they will face Basha.