Michael Gray is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover NFL Yet College Prep Academy for AZPreps365.com 

PHOENIX – Maurice “Coach Mo” Streety has made it his mission to build more than winning teams — he’s building better young men.

Better known throughout the Arizona youth sports scene as “Coach Mo,” Streety has now taken on the role of varsity football head coach at NFL Yet Preparatory Academy. 

Streety began coaching track and field after he graduated from Cody High School in Detroit before joining the military. 

Streety served at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri from 1985 to 1988. He later moved to Air Combat Command at Luke Air Force Base in 1990 where he served in the Air Maintenance Unit.

Sainz said Streety's military experience helped shape him into the man he is today.

Streety returned to coaching during his time at Luke Air Force Base for the 56th Medical Group football team, which compiled a 40-4 record and appeared in four championship games, winning three of them. 

“What the Air Force did for me was it prepared me to take advantage of opportunities in life.” Streety said.

Streety was an assistant football coach and track and field coach from 1991 to 2000. During that time, his teams won nine state championships – with three of them won with Arizona high school football coaching legend Jim Rattay.

“When I left Moon Valley, Rattay gave me the greatest opportunity,” Streety said. Streety was at Moon Valley in his early days of high school coaching from 1993-1998.

Streety would end up at Desert Vista High School, where during the offseason he would coach and train future NFL players such as Terrell Suggs.

Streety also coached and mentored Daniel Sainz in his youth. Sainz is now the offensive and defensive line coach for NFL Yet.

“Coming from a single-mother household, it was hard not having a father-like role in the house,” Sainz said.“I think that’s why I have so much respect for him.”

Sainz played for Streety's public school league from sixth through eighth grade.

One of those opportunities Streety took advantage of was working with the Arizona Cardinals.

Streety coached kids at Cardinals youth football camps. Streety said that at first, the camps only had 25 kids show up, but at his last camp there were 1,500. 

Streety later assumed the same role with the Los Angeles Rams. He said that it was “beyond his wildest dreams” working with and meeting NFL superstars like Cooper Kupp, Patrick Peterson and Calais Campbell.

Streety's overall impact on the culture is already being felt in his short time at NFL Yet.

Junior two-way lineman Santiago Romero said Streety has brought structure and energy to the team.

“The culture has become more team-oriented, and players are buying into a higher standard,” Romero said.

Romero said he appreciates the impact Streety has had on him as a person.

“Off the field, Coach Mo has helped me develop as a person. He’s big on accountability and character — making sure we carry ourselves the right way in school and in life,” Romero said. 

“He’s helped create an environment where everyone feels motivated to get better and take pride in what we’re building,” Romero said.

Sainz said that Streety has delivered on his promise to completely change the culture and rebuild the football team.