Coupeville Sports

New Coupeville Middle School football coach Brett Casey, wife Melissa and son Brian. (Photo courtesy Casey)

“I love being around football and kids.”

Those are the words of Brett Casey, the new Coupeville Middle School football coach, a man ready to tackle his new job in style.

When the Coupeville School District hired his wife, Melissa Casey, as a Special Education Life Skills teacher this summer, it set off an eventual 2-for-1 deal.

A longtime gridiron ace as a player and coach, Brett Casey then decided to pursue the job opening which appeared when Bob Martin resigned.

Now, a few months later, Casey is in place and raring to go, counting down the days until the first CMS practice Aug. 27.

“When my wife accepted a teaching job, I looked for the opportunity to continue coaching on the island,” he said. “I grew up playing in a small community, and I look forward to returning to that atmosphere as a coach.”

After earning All-State honors in high school as a wide receiver and defensive back, he played in the Down Under Bowl in Australia, before joining the football team at the University of Montana Western.

That’s the same school former Coupeville standout Mitch Pelroy suited up for during his own college football career.

After his playing days came to a close, Casey turned to coaching, and has put in three seasons working at the youth football level and six more with high school teams.

Over the past six years, his teams have posted a combined record of 48-9.

As a coach, Casey is straight-forward, asking his players to give back to the game what it gives to them.

“I would like them to have respect for the game, their teammates, opponents, and officials,” he said. “I would love to see kids excited about football again at CMS.

“Build it into a winning program and a feeder program for CHS.”

While he ultimately guides his team’s strategy, Casey wants his players to develop to the point where they are working with him, and not just for him.

“I enjoy the chess match-like strategy battle that ensues during the game,” he said. “Watching the players grow once they understand the how and why of the game.

“Once the players get that, the game opens up and the players can start giving their input on the offense or defense.”