Delaney Alford isn’t only a cross-country coach and an English III teacher. She’s also navigating her first year as the adviser for Hope Squad, a program dedicated to reducing youth suicide.

Last May, Alford was recognized by the district as the Assistant Coach of the Year at the fourth annual Coaches’ Ball for her outstanding positivity and her contributions to Prosper High and her athletes. 

“Truthfully, I have never coached or taught in a district as great as Prosper ISD,” Alford said. “I’m not even just saying that. I think that our students, our athletes, and our staff across the district (are) just incredible.”

Three years ago, Alford started her career at Prosper as a coach during Thanksgiving break. Now, looking back on her experience of working at the school, she describes her favorite part about mentoring her athletes as the same reason she likes to teach: building relationships with the kids.

“The main thing I love about coaching is allowing an opportunity and, like, reminders for our athletes that they’re capable,” Alford said. “I think sometimes our kids don’t hear it enough, especially from themselves. I think that it’s really important to just be that other voice that encourages them and lets them know that they’re capable of growth.”

Head volleyball coach Toree Winchell works alongside Alford each day, and she finds the moments shared with “the assistant coach of the year” are “undisputably positive.”

“We are so lucky to have coach Alford at the Prosper High School,” Winchell said. “Her servant heart is evident in all she does, and I am so happy our kids and staff get to experience her light and positivity.”

Winchell, Alford, and other coaches for the district gathered at the Coaches’ Ball last school year, where Alford was recognized for her impact in the classrooms and athletic programs. At the ceremony, all sports on PISD campuses were celebrated for their successes and seasons coming to an end, with athletes, teams, and coaches being in the spotlight.

“I mean, honestly, there are so many other assistant coaches that could have won the award instead of me,” Alford said. “I think the reason that I was able to coach is because I had such great athletes and a really great head coach, but I didn’t do anything special. I’m blessed to have been able to receive it.”

To her, everybody at Prosper holds themselves to a higher standard – not just as students, athletes, or professionals, but as people.

“I think that’s so awesome because my biggest thing is I want to grow as an individual,” Alford said. “I want my kids to grow as people, and I think that is genuinely what Prosper seriously is about and I love it.”

Alford believes that, when it comes to her approach to coaching, the athletes are always first.

“It’s really important to hear the athletes’ perspective before just my own, because a lot of the times, I might think something should go a certain way, and it might lead to (discontent),” Alford said. “But if I don’t hear the perspective of my kids, it might be the worst thing for them. So I think hearing out my athletes is important.”

As she finishes her doctorate in sport and performance psychology, the cross country and track and field coach uses her master’s degree in mental health to guide her Hope Squad students while using her skills to help her other classes.

“I think Hope Squad is such a good class and such a good program to not only teach (mental health awareness) to the kids that are in the class, but also to push that out to any and everybody else,” Alford said. “What better way for people to hear about it than from their peers?”

The coach’s favorite experiences with Hope Squad so far have been seeing students connect with each other, especially with Suicide Prevention Week last month, which took place Sept. 8 – 14.

“To see the students really take ownership and responsibility, wanting to spread kindness, spread joy and spread value was so awesome,” Alford said. “[Hope Squad] just gives another avenue and line of communication for people, whether they already have those lines of communication, or they don’t at all. It’s another opportunity for people to feel seen, feel heard and feel valued.”

Freshman Dylan Cahill, one of Alford’s Hope Squad students, is happy to call her his teacher.

“She’s fun and energetic, and she always brings positive vibes (to) the class,” Cahill said. “She always finds a way to make my day better.”

When asked if she has core values or principles that she sticks to as a teacher or coach, Alford responded with two words: “service and enjoy.”

“I’ve always wanted to teach a class or (teach) just in general, (and tell) individuals that their value and their worth is so much more than sometimes they think that it is,” Alford said. “Valuing others and making sure that I’m putting their needs, their expectations, or their wants at the forefront is really important to serving the people that I’m with, whether that’s athletes, other coaches, or my students. Because before I say anything as a coach, as a teacher, I always think that every single person needs to know their value as an individual before they expect to do anything else academically, athletically – or beyond that.”

This article received edits by Polly Greaves, Emily Logan, Elise Leavitt, and Michelle Ayala.