The NCAA has invited ISU assistant head football coach Tony Alford to participate in the NCAA Advanced Coaching Program in January in Orlando, Fla.

The Advanced Coaching Program, which invites 20 assistant coaches from across the country, is one of three parts of the NCAA’s Coaches Academy. The Coaches Academy was created by the NCAA in an effort to address the lack of minorities in head coaching positions.

As a participant in the three-day conference, Alford will touch up his skills in several different areas. The conference will address communications, fiscal responsibilities, successful program building, ethical and moral considerations and academic issues.

Alford said being invited to the conference in an honor and he is flattered to be among the few in the country to participate.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity,” Alford said. “I’m learning and maturing everyday.”

Alford said being at the conference will be a great networking opportunity for him and he will be going in with open eyes and ears.

The program exists because of a serious lack of minorities in head coaching positions throughout the NCAA. There are 117 head coaching positions in Division I-A football, and only four of those positions are filled by African-Americans.

“The odds are stacked up,” Alford said. “I would love to be a head coach some day.”

ISU athletic director Bruce Van De Velde said he’s hoping the Coaches Academy will help sharpen Alford’s skills and present him with the opportunity to be a leader when given a head coaching opportunity.

“[Alford] has potential to be a head coach,” said Van De Velde. “It’s a wonderful opportunity.”

Van De Velde said he hopes Alford comes back from the Advanced Coaching Program with a new appreciation of the athletics program, and a greater overall awareness of the big picture.

Alford said he hopes he can bring back with him elements from the coaching program that will help him and help Iowa State’s football program at the same time.

The 2004 NCAA Advanced Coaching Program will be held Jan. 2-4, 2004.