With both his father and older brother working as coaches for Cathedral, it might seem that Craig Beesley was destined to assume a similar role.

But the 1989 Cathedral graduate said fate has very little to with his current job as a Green Wave coach and teacher – he’s right where he wants to be.

&uot;I just like being around the kids,&uot; he said. &uot;There’s never a dull moment. When you’re around 30 or 40 teenagers, there’s always something going on.&uot;

Being able to work with his father and brother, especially on the varsity football team, is also a plus, he said. Craig’s father, Ken Beesley Sr., is the head coach and Ken Jr. handles special teams. Craig is the Green Wave’s defensive coordinator.

&uot;This is the first time we’ve had this situation,&uot; Craig Beesley said. &uot;We’ve been able to work together and come up with game plans. We just enjoy being around each other.&uot;

Admittedly, this hasn’t been the best of seasons for Cathedral, as the Green Wave has yet to win a game.

&uot;The kids have played so well all year. They’ve just been unlucky,&uot; Beesley said. &uot;But it’s hard to tell them that every Friday night.&uot;

In addition to teaching Algebra I and II and coaching girls varsity baseball and power lifting, as well as assisting with varsity football and baseball, Beesley coaches Cathedral’s junior varsity football team.

The team, made up of ninth- and 10th-graders, gives Beesley a look at Cathedral football’s future. At this stage in a losing season, he said, that look can be important.

&uot;We’re not giving up on the season, but at some point you have to look forward at what’s coming up next year,&uot; he said.

Junior varsity players face a tough situation in that they practice with the varsity and make the same physical and time sacrifices as the older players, but receive little attention and fan support, he said.

&uot;We tell them in practice that the varsity can’t get better until they get better,&uot; Beesley said. &uot;Beyond that they play for pride. They only play five games so they’re excited when they can get out there and play.&uot;

As if coaching doesn’t take away enough of his time from hunting and fishing, he and his wife Margret’s two children, 5-year-old Madelyn Taylor and 3-year-old Andrew Craig, consume pretty much the rest of it, Beesley said.

&uot;The kids keep me pretty busy,&uot; he said, &uot;And I wouldn’t have it any other way.&uot;