Jordy Fee-Platt is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Cactus High School for AZPreps365.com

Nothing in the world of football has ever been handed to Brian Belles. In his sophomore year at Saint Mary’s Catholic High School in 1993, Belles’ team had lost two starting linebackers to injury early in the season. Coach Pat Farrell asked his assistant Steve Belles whether his 140-pound nephew was capable of filling in. 

His uncle replied: “Mentally he’s going to have no problem. Physically he may have some limitations. But he’ll give you everything he’s got.” 

The move proved successful, as Belles went on to be a three-year starter on varsity, culminating in a 1995 state championship his senior season.

“Physically, he just had such good technique that made up for his physical lack of prowess,” Steve Belles said. “He was always a smart football player. An excellent technician on the little things that make you great.”

The younger Belles is taking this approach with him as he embarks on a new chapter in his football life. After more than two decades as an assistant coach, the 45-year-old was hired to be the head coach of Cactus prior to this season. 

This year was by no means an easy time to take over the program. Cactus entered the season needing to replace all five starting offensive linemen. The Cobras also moved up to 5A for the first time this season, becoming the second-smallest school in the conference.

Facing teams with much larger rosters, Cactus had to adjust to competing against deeper and better-rested competition. The team struggled to find its footing early with an extremely challenging non-section schedule, falling to an uncharacteristic 2-3. 

However, since then, Cactus has tallied seven consecutive wins to earn a region championship and a berth in the state playoffs. Belles earned 5A Desert West Region Coach of the Year honors in the process. Wide receiver and defensive back Nikko Boncore has tremendous confidence in his head coach. 

“He shows love to all the kids on our team and helps in the best way he can with life and getting them where they want to go,” Boncore said. “He brings so much to our team because we know we can trust what he is doing and saying.” 

Offense coordinator Mason Crossland credits Belles’ balanced coaching style for producing the turnaround this season. 

“I think he’s really learned how to get on a kid when you need to be able to,” Crossland said. “But then once they correct it, he’s really really good at putting his arm around the kid and telling him that he loves him and he appreciates him.”

Belles has a long history with the Cobras. After playing football at Glendale Community College for two years, the Phoenix native transferred to ASU to complete his four-year degree. In the final semester of his education program in 1999, he was asked to be a student-teacher at a local high school. 

That high school was Cactus. While student-teaching, Belles served as the JV defensive coordinator, his first foray into coaching. 

After graduating from Arizona State, Belles returned to Cactus on a full-time basis. He was very attracted to the program, largely because of legendary head coach Larry Fetkenheir. Belles quickly impressed Fetkenheir, making his way up the coaching ranks. 

“I think there’s a few good assistant coaches, but I don’t think there are many great assistant coaches, and I think Brian was a great assistant,” Fetkenheir said. “He’s one of the smartest coaches that I know, and I think you’d be hard-pressed to find anybody that outworks him.”

Belles became the Cobras’ defensive coordinator in 2004, and he and Fetkenheir would enjoy tremendous success in the coming years. Cactus reached five state championships and won two state titles in the span of 14 years. Belles’ success as an undersized player makes him well-suited for coaching.

“When you’re gifted and you’re a really good player, those guys seem to not always make the best coaches,” Steve Belles said. “Because they say why can’t you do it, it should come naturally. And that’s not how it is for most of us. I think if you’re a hard worker, and you really gotta work your butt off for something, it makes a big difference.”

With his strong work manning the defense, Belles had numerous opportunities to take head coaching jobs elsewhere. However, it just never felt right. Belles was not enthusiastic about taking on a new list of responsibilities, but most importantly, he had no interest in leaving Cactus. 

“I’ve been asked to apply at high schools in the past, but Cactus has always been my home,” Brian Belles said. “I never really wanted to go anywhere else.”

Belles patiently waited his turn for the right time to apply for the head coaching position. When Joseph Ortiz departed for Perry earlier this year, it felt like his moment.

“Cactus is a place that is near and dear to my heart, and I didn’t want somebody else coming in and changing everything,” Belles said.

The admiration is mutual, as Belles is beloved in the community. Crossland believes this eased his colleague’s adjustment to head coach. 

“He’s a main face around campus,” Crossland said. “Everybody loves him. I really have never heard anything bad about him.”

Belles hopes to continue to foster a culture of excellence at Cactus, which has not missed the state playoffs since 2000. After defeating Willow Canyon and Horizon in their first two playoff games, the Cobras will look to pull off the upset against No. 1 seed Notre Dame Prep in the 5A state semifinals on Friday. Cactus is looking for its first state title since 2009. 

Regardless of how this season and future ones turn out, Steve Belles knows his nephew will never lose sight of his core values.

“Sometimes these guys who become head coaches try and be somebody they’re not,” Steve Belles said. “He’s probably one of the most genuine guys you would ever talk to. He’s very humble. He doesn’t get overhyped, but he gets emotional when he has to. He’s just true to himself.”