CAPE CORAL, Fla. — A local middle school science teacher teaching us that it is never too late to chase your dreams.
Football has been a life-long passion for Roy Stabler of Cape Coral, and in just a few days he will be leaving the classroom and taking over as the Defensive Coordinator for the Orlando Predators arena football team.
Coach Stabler has been a teacher at Six Mile Charter Academy for years and while he’s passionate about education, his heart as always been in the game of football.
“Football has always been my love, I played the game since I was about four until I was about thirty-four, then I retired, ” said Roy Stabler.
He’s played at the collegiate level and also in several arena teams.
The Orlando Predators arena football league finished worst in the conference at just 2-12 last season.
Stabler says he hopes to bring a new approach and a fresh slate.
“Once we can all get on the same page and we can develop as players and also as coaches, I think success will come, ” said Stabler.
He says coaching has always been a dream.
“I played in the league a long time, I was very successful. I think that my experience, my knowledge as a player is going to carry over as a coach,” Roy Stabler.
The best players are ones that lead on and off the field.
“I want to be big with the community as well, so we want to do a lot of things with the kids and the system around the Orlando area,” said Stabler.
He has a message for aspiring athletes.
“You can be whatever you want to be, dreams are made to happen, but it is all about effort and it is all about that attitude that you have, it is all about how bad you want it,” said Stabler.
Coach Stabler is also working on a book entitled Play the Game; Life through Faith, Family, and Football set to debut December 2020.
