Coach Carmelo Velazquez

By: Haroun Savage (NCMFC Staff)

Coach Carmelo Velazquez's journey in football began with a suggestion from his cousin while the two were playing catch. Growing up, baseball was his primary sport, and he had never considered playing football. However, in high school, he decided to give football a chance in hopes of achieving greater team success. That decision would lead to a playing and coaching career spanning more than two decades.



Following high school, Coach Velazquez received a Division II scholarship offer from Winona State University but ultimately chose to stay close to home and attend Wisconsin Lutheran College. Although becoming a father and having to provide for his family prevented him from completing his collegiate playing career, he remained committed to his education and graduated as salutatorian. His passion for football continued through the semi-professional ranks, where he played from 2004 to 2021 with organizations including the Racine Raiders and Sheboygan County Sabercats. His accomplishments as a player earned him selection for induction into the American Football Association Hall of Fame.

Coach Velazquez began his coaching career in 2014 at Brown Deer High School, serving as wide receivers coach for three seasons while also working with the track and field program. After spending additional time focused on track and field, he returned to football in 2020 as an intern at Concordia University Wisconsin. The following year, he became the program's wide receivers coach, continuing to develop his approach to teaching the position and preparing athletes for competition.



In 2021, Coach Velazquez also became the offensive coordinator for the Sheboygan County Sabercats. Under his direction, the Sabercats established the league's top offense for three consecutive seasons, including a 15-1 campaign that resulted in a national championship. His success at the semi-professional level helped create additional opportunities in the indoor football ranks. When the Carolina Cobras approached him about returning to the field as a player, he explained that his playing days were behind him. Instead, the organization offered him an opportunity to coach, and he helped the Cobras reach back-to-back championship games.

His experience in indoor football helped expand his coaching network and introduced him to different offensive systems and approaches. In 2023, Coach Velazquez returned to his alma mater, Wisconsin Lutheran College, where he spent three seasons coaching. He also joined the Iowa Barnstormers in 2024 as special teams coordinator, gaining additional experience in professional indoor football. Throughout his first six seasons coaching wide receivers, he developed an all-conference receiver each year, with three earning all-region recognition. In five of those six seasons, his teams featured a league-leading receiver.

While Coach Velazquez takes pride in developing productive offensive players, he believes coaching carries responsibilities beyond what happens on the field. Working with college athletes allowed him to help young men prepare for the challenges and responsibilities they would face after graduation. He credits coaches and mentors who emphasized using football to teach lessons about faith, character, and life. Among those influences is Eric Treske, whose approach to integrating ministry and personal development into coaching helped shape Coach Velazquez's own philosophy.

That emphasis on player development remains central to his work at Kingdom Prep Lutheran High School in Milwaukee. After initially joining the school as head track and field coach, strength and conditioning coach, and physical education teacher, Coach Velazquez became the head football coach in 2026. Serving student-athletes from Milwaukee's inner-city communities, he views his position as an opportunity to help young men pursue higher education and create opportunities for themselves beyond high school.

In his first season leading the program, Coach Velazquez helped Kingdom Prep improve from a 0-9 record the previous year to 3-6. Rather than focusing solely on wins and losses, his message to his players centered on making progress and becoming better than they were the year before. He also credits mentor Angel Lopez for playing an instrumental role in helping him develop his vision for the program and establish a foundation for its future.

As he continues building Kingdom Prep's football program, Coach Velazquez is working to develop a pro-style passing offense influenced by concepts from the Shanahan and McVay coaching tree. His immediate goals include winning a conference championship, continuing to evolve the offense, and helping more of his student-athletes earn opportunities to play football at the collegiate level.

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