Youth coach steps into Canterbury position

Steve Dudley was officially named Crusaders football coach Tuesday.

By JOE SMITH
Published March 28, 2007

Canterbury's game of musical chairs among coaching candidates is over.

Steve Dudley was officially named Crusaders football coach Tuesday.

"It's been kind of a roller-coaster the past few weeks, but I'm excited to get things going at this level," Dudley said.

Dudley, 43, was an all-state linebacker at St. Petersburg High in 1982 and played four years of college football at Harding University (Ark.). His coaching experience includes a graduate assistant position at Harding University, defensive line coach at Arkansas Tech, former defensive coordinator at Clearwater Central Catholic, and most recently, head coach of the midgets (ages 13-14) in the Bandit Youth Football Organization.

Dudley's hiring wrapped up the school's three-month search to replace Shannon Brooks, who resigned in November to take an assistant job at Lakewood.

Canterbury targeted its top candidate, Brad Miller from Pasadena, Calif., who accepted the job on March 9. But Miller stunned school administrators 11 days later, saying he instead was taking an assistant job with the University of San Diego.

Canterbury moved fast, within a week selecting Dudley, who has one month to prepare for spring practice.

"I think the school at first really wanted to bring in a coach who was a teacher and would be on campus during the day," said Dudley, who works in medical sales. "I'm just glad everything worked out."

CHURCH SIGNS WITH STEELERS: Former Lakewood linebacker Marcello Church has signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Terms were not disclosed.

Church, a 6-foot-1, 230-pounder who attended Florida State, suffered a season-ending ankle injury his senior season (2005) and did not participate in an NFL camp last year.

"It's a great opportunity," Church said. "Being in the situation I was, I'm blessed to get another chance."

Times staff writer Bob Putnam contributed to this report.

[Last modified March 28, 2007, 00:17:20]