SPORTS
War hawks ASU coach takes over Desert Sunrise gridiron, with a 110-pound twist
BY JEFF CHEW
S
TEVEN BEARD IS DESERT SUNRISE HIGH School’s new head football coach, and he hopes to turn around a young program in need of an upgrade.
Beard, who also teaches world history at the school, came to the Golden Hawks after a four-year stint with the Arizona State University football squad. There, he was an assistant coach for the Sun Devils’ D-line for three years. Beard said he left ASU for family reasons. “My kids were young when I started there,” he said. “Coaching in college requires a lot of time and a lot of time away from home. I really wanted to be a part of my children’s lives. And I found it was a better fit for me.” He said he hopes to bring some of that winning D-I spirit to Desert Sunrise. “If the culture’s right, the wins will follow,” Beard told InMaricopa . “We’re just shifting the culture and the mindset of the players that are here. We want to keep the local kids here. We are building a program that the whole city can get behind.” Hailing from Vallejo, Calif., Beard earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice, plus a master’s degree in communications at ASU.
InMaricopa.com | July 2024
July 2024 | InMaricopa.com
38
39
Powered by FlippingBook