Football Coaches
Israel Mbanabaragu – Athletic Trainer/Football Coach
- BA in Communication Studies from the University of Southern California (USC)
- USC Football – All Pac 10 Player, 1996 Rose Bowl Champions/ Team Captain
- Retired NFL Player – San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas – Position: Defensive End
- Certified Personal Trainer – NESTA
- National Motivational Speaker – Youth and Adult Programs, Churches, Sports Camps, and Coaches’ Clinics
- Head Football Coach – Desert Christian High School in California
- Head Coach of Track and Field Sprinters at Desert Christian High School
Israel “Izzy” Ifeanyichukwu Mbanabaragu is a long time participant, advocate, and coach of youth sports (Soccer, Football, Basketball, Tennis, Cricket, Track and Field etc). He is originally from Owerri, Nigeria and is currently working with other domestic and international organizations to establish sports oriented youth centers in Nigeria.
While in Nigeria, Israel experienced first hand the importance of participating in youth sports, for it inspired him to pursue his dreams that led him to the United States. Israel excelled in many sports including Soccer, rugby, and cricket, but one day, at the age of 13, he saw a sports magazine brought back from America by his father. The magazine featured a Miami Dolphins player, and with that image in mind, Israel decided to come to the United States with a dream – to one day become a football “warrior.” A dream that led him to play for USC, become an All Pac 10 player, Rose Bowl Champion and team captain, Cotton Bowl Champion, 1st pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 1996, and 5 years in the NFL. He also established the first High School Varsity and JV football programs for Desert Christian High School in 2004. In 2011 Desert Christian Football was a finalist competing in the state championship game; the team ranked #1 for 5 weeks, and made 5 playoff appearances in 8 years.
In 2010, Israel took over as the new Head Coach for the Desert Christian Boys’ Soccer team. Through his coaching and guidance, the boys’ soccer program enjoyed their best record in 10 years and made a playoff appearance. As a trainer, he taught skills and personally trained the majority of the players on the Desert Christian Girls’ Soccer team that won 5 state championships in 6 years. Many of Israel’s clients and players have gone on to play D1 to D3 college ball.
Israel has trained all types of athletes from ages 8 to High School/College/ professional athletes, actors, and weekend warriors preparing for their athletic goals or movie roles. As a motivational speaker Israel’s focus is in helping people break free from their doubts, fears, insecurities, and personal/cultural programming that hold our hidden strengths, talents, and other abilities captive. Israel’s mission is to inspire and encourage people of all ages to discover and maximize their talents so as to manifest their “true” destiny in life.
Cosmo Clarke – Athletic Development Director
Cosmo has an extensive background in the hockey and fitness field. He also has an extensive background of training athletes of all ages and in all sports. He has trained athletes at the amateur and professional level. Cosmo spent some time working in the private fitness field, corporate fitness field, as well as private prep schools.
Cosmo enjoyed playing 4 years of collegiate hockey at Brock University, 5 years of professional hockey, from 1995 to 2000, and also spent some time being an assistant coach at the professional level. Cosmo has been coaching youth hockey in the Dallas, Texas for over 10 years. He has a USA Hockey Master Coaching Certificate and is also a NASM Certified Personal Trainer.
Cosmo is a native of Ottawa, Ontario and has been living in Dallas since 1997. He has a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies from Brock University, Ontario and has been Certified Fitness Trainer for 20+ years.
