American Leadership Academy Ironwood in Queen Creek has a new head football coach.

Myron Blueford will be helming the team for the 2025 season.

“Blueford joins ALA Ironwood with an impressive background in coaching and player development. His commitment to fostering discipline, teamwork and academic excellence aligns with ALA’s mission of developing student-athletes who demonstrate character, integrity and a strong work ethic,” according to a press release.

Blueford most recently served as the defensive coordinator and junior high athletic director at ALA Ironwood, helping lead the varsity football team to an 8-2 record and a quarterfinal appearance in the 3A playoffs.

Prior to that, he was the head coach and offensive coordinator at Arizona College Preparatory High School, where he built the program from a small 2A team with fewer than 40 players into a 4A program with more than 150 athletes, making four playoff appearances and winning a 2020 region championship. the release continued.

His national coaching experience includes serving as the defensive coordinator for the USA National Tackle Team, competing in the Junior World Games in Edmonton, Canada, and coaching the defensive line for the 2020 International Bowl vs. Canada.

Blueford also served at Phoenix College, Moon Valley High School and Arizona Lutheran Academy.

His accolades include the 2021 City of Chandler Legendary Coach Award, 2020 Small School Coach of the Year and multiple Metro East Coach of the Year honors. He was recognized as the 2019 Chandler Unified Coach of the Year and an Arizona Cardinals Coach of the Week.

Beyond coaching, he is a retired U.S. Army Reserve member, an Arizona Fellowship Christian Athletes board member, and holds a master’s in education from Northcentral University.

ALA Ironwood is located at 850 W. Combs Road.