It didn’t take long for Dick to become mesmerized by Mallett’s physical skills, namely how, if he wanted to, Mallett could uncork a football 80 or more yards downfield. Size, strength and a deep interest in learning how to play the position … it was all there.Mallett tragically drownedMallett always knew his potential as a player. He also knew his real long-term future.
“He always wanted to make an impact in people’s lives,” said Dick, now the head coach at Fayetteville High School. “That was Ryan. That’s how he was as a teammate. He cared about everybody on the team. And that’s why he always wanted to be a coach at some point.” Ryan Mallett didn’t choose to chase a college or pro job though. Instead he decided to apply himself to the high school ranks, where he felt he could most impact his players on and off the field.
Instead, in 2020, he became the offensive coordinator at Mountain Home High School, a small city along the Missouri border that is about as far from the NFL spotlight as you can get. And the football program? It was one the worst in the state, having posted a 1-29 record the previous three seasons. At Mountain View, he quickly helped end a 23-game losing streak. By 2021, the Bombers went 4-8 and scored a stunning upset in the state playoffs.