Alan Gooch has committed his life to one thing…helping others. His primary vehicle for doing this has been his work for more than 25 years in college athletics and primarily football. Alan is the Executive Director of the Orlando Sports Foundation, who goal is to bring a college football bowl game to the UCF campus and Bright House Networks Stadium. Additionally, the Bowl's goal is to create awareness and additional financial resource for cancer research.

Gooch began his career as a member of the University of Central Florida (UCF) Knights as a defensive back in 1981 before spending 22 seasons as a member of the coaching staff. He started his coaching career in 1983 as a graduate assistant quickly moving thru the ranks and becoming UCF's recruiting coordinator, during his eight years at the position, he aided the program's transition from Division II through I-AA and into I-A status. He was named assistant head coach in 1998 and took over as interim head coach at the end of the 2003 season. Gooch and Gary Gibbs of University of Oklahoma are the only two coaches in division one football to rise from player to Head Coach without leaving their alma mater.

On the field, Gooch guided the secondary for his first few years then took over coaching the linebackers. In 1986, he became responsible for the running backs. Over the next 17 years, all 31 running backs finished their eligibility and received degrees from UCF. During the 1997 season, Gooch earned national attention working with running back Dwight Collins, who is deaf. Collins received Walt Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award for being the nation's most courageous athlete and was honored, with Gooch at his side, by President Bill Clinton in a White House ceremony for winning the Giant Steps award, presented by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports. That same year, Gooch himself was named the Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.

Gooch was inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006. Gooch, who earned both his bachelor's degree in physical education and master's degree in exercise physiology from UCF, gave back to his alma mater off the field. He served as the UCF Lettermen's Club (K-Club) president for three terms and also spent time on the UCF Alumni Board of Directors. For his work in the community and commitment to UCF, the UCF Alumni Association awarded Coach Gooch with its annual Service to UCF award in November of 1998. In 2007 UCF College of Education awarded Gooch “Educator of the Decade” for the 80’s.

After leaving the coaching profession in 2004, Gooch spent a year as the executive director of the Golden Knights Club before entering the private business sector as a commercial real estate broker. Gooch founded Tizon Commercial in 2006. In 2007 Gooch was named President and General Manager of the AFL Orlando Predators and led the 2-Time AFL World Champion organization to its 20th consecutive playoff experience. Alan Gooch is married to Linda Gooch UCF’s longtime Cheerleading Coach who has won two National Championships, in 2003 and 2007. Alan and Linda have two boys Zach 11 and Noah 9.