Brian Dickerson has a passion for reaching out to young people and affecting how they live their lives.

The new Opp assistant football coach has spent the last month with the Bobcats’ football team in the weight room at work outs, and he said he’s noticed a lot of good things from the players.

Dickerson will also help out with the track and field team.

“There’s a lot of promise in that program, and we’re going to build something special,” Dickerson said.

Dickerson said he has been coaching for the last three years and he’s focused on football. However, he said he’s willing to branch out in helping with other sports.

In high school, Dickerson played wide receiver in Opelika, and played college football at West Alabama.

Dickerson said coming from a small town like Opelika helped forge his desire for playing football at a deeper level.

“I come from a place like Opp, which is a football town, and we were very successful,” he said. “In that, my abilities were able to be shown.

“I love the team work thing more than anything else,” he said. “Team work and the unity and accountability of the sport. It’s where if one person doesn’t do their job, everyone else will be affected by it. That unity thing that comes along with it is very important.”

Dickerson will be coaching quarterbacks for the Bobcats as they are getting prepared for the 2012 season.

He said it’s in coaching that he can really reach the players and help affect their lives.

“Coaching gives you so many avenues to reach young people,” he said. “They need that influence and I think God’s given me the ability to touch them in those special ways.”

As football players run from one end zone to the other end zone, Dickerson said he also uses the game to show them that there are different avenues in life players can take.

“Take the discipline from this game. You’re going to get knocked down in life, and you’re not always going to win,” he said. “As long as you’re giving your very best, great things are going to happen in your life if you apply them.”

Dickerson’s wife, SaRhonda, is the varsity girls basketball coach at OHS, and they have two children, a 6-year-old son, B.J., and a 5-year-old daughter, Sariyah.

Dickerson will be teaching history at OHS and coach track and field with SaRhonda, who is a physical education teacher at Opp Middle School.

Additionally, he said on a spiritual level, he thanks God every day for the ability to reach younger people.

“I thank God for giving me the desires, No. 1,” he said. “And then giving me the opportunity and ability to translate that into young people, and I do that with my wife and children at home.”