CLEARFIELD — Andre Dyson’s football career has come full circle.

The former Clearfield High star who went on to play at the University of Utah and at cornerback in the National Football League for the Titans, Seahawks and Jets, is back on the Falcon sideline, having exchanged his helmet for a headset, as the Falcons’ new head coach.

Dyson, 34, replaced Will Hawes, who recently resigned after two seasons following a 2-8 campaign.Even though he’s 16 years removed from graduation, Dyson has maintained a tangible touch on the Clearfield program. His retired number 21 — along with his older brother Kevin’s — hang from the press box at Falcon Field and a trophy case inside the school highlights several of his mementos.

During his playing career, which concluded in 1996, Clearfield compiled a 21-10 overall mark and reached the state 5-A playoffs all three seasons.

After finishing his NFL career in 2008, Dyson spent three years coaching at Weber State and then spent last year as the defensive coordinator at Weber High School. He wasn’t looking to make a move, but when the Clearfield job opened up, Dyson became interested.

“Obviously I graduated from (Clearfield) and I played there,” Dyson said. “The opportunity was there; they were looking for a new spark and new life and I thought I’d be the best one to start that.It kind of just happened. I wasn’t even thinking about a head coaching job. I was at Weber (State) for three years, then I got tired and took a year off to relax and enjoy life. Last year (Weber High) coach (Matt) Hammer asked me to help out and it gave me a chance to see which route I wanted to go, college coaching, high school or training. I had no strong thought of being a head coach but when the job came up my name started popping up. When my name came up I thought, ‘Why not?’ If it was any other place I wouldn’t have applied.”

The Falcons have struggled on the gridiron for nearly a decade with nine straight losing seasons while compiling a 27-66 overall record. Despite Dyson’s lack of head coaching experience on his resume, Clearfield was equally intrigued.

“We didn’t have any apprehension,” Falcons athletic director Curtis Hulse said. “The things that sold us are, one, Andre is Clearfield guy. He knows the school and he’s been around the area so he knows the changes that have taken place (notably the opening of Syracuse High seven years ago and Clearfield’s subsequent drop to class 4-A in 2011).

Second is his background, not only playing but coaching at Weber State and Weber High. He has great character. We think he is a guy that kids will want to play for and we think he has all of the things necessary to get things turned around, although it’s not going to turn around overnight.

“A few of the kids I’ve talked to are really excited. There’s a buzz about it, a chance to play for a guy with a lot of experience and a lot of knowledge. He’s a guy that walked these same halls and sat in these same classrooms.”

Dyson isn’t fully aware of exactly what problems have plagued the program recently after a long string of success under Randy Johnson during the ’90s — which included Clearfield’s only state championship in 1992 — through its last region title in 2002. His focus is fixed on what lies ahead rather than the issues of the past.

“I don’t know exactly what the problems have been,” Dyson says. “I’ve checked scores but I haven’t been to too many games. I don’t have all those answers. I’m not really worried about the past, I’m just trying to put my stamp on the program. Hopefully (the players) are buying what I’m selling. One thing I can tell you, myself and the coaching staff I put together will give these kids the best opportunity to be successful. I’m just trying to bring an attitude and a belief each and every day, not only in the team, but in themselves. A lot of kids don’t believe they can be successful. Some guys are scared to fail and it’s ok to fail, but it’s not ok to not try. I’ll try to get them to see the winning mentality. Going out there and giving my all and the kids trying their hardest, that’s being successful. You can’t always win. Winning championships is obviously the goal, but I don’t have that as a gauge for success.”

Schematically, Dyson is keeping everything under wraps for now.

“We’re going to play defense, then on offense we’re going to throw the ball and we’re going to run the ball,” he joked.

After returning both an interception and a fumble for a touchdown on Monday Night Football and later reaching the pinnacle of the sport by starting for the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL (a 21-10 loss to Pittsburgh), what motivates Dyson to want to spend long hours trying to develop young men to perform in front of a couple of thousand people on Friday nights?

“After I finished my career and Coach Mac (Ron McBride) asked me to coach at Weber (State) I enjoyed it. The best thing I can do is to give back to the sport that gave so much to me and my family.”