COLMESNEIL – Colmesneil ISD named a new athletic director, Chad Coker, after a special-called meeting on Tuesday, April 21.
CISD board president Eric Lee called the meeting to order with the sole agenda item being the recommendation and deliberation regarding the appointment, which was approved by the board. Coker, who is a 25-year veteran of coaching, comes to Bulldog Country from another territory marked by the bulldog as its mascot – Wortham ISD, in Freestone County.
Coker has served as athletic director and head football coach since 2017 at Wortham. Wortham is a 2A school with opponents in Region III, District 10, such as Bremond, Chilton and Mart. Last season, Wortham finished sixth in district standings. In 2022, the football team finished second in its district with a 9-3 record.
On behalf of the district and the school board, Lee said “We are excited for the positive impact he will have on our athletes, coaches and community.”
Coker steps into an athletic program that has been led by Artie Yates as the coordinator for the boys’ athletics and Tanner Shepherd over the girls’ sports. In March, the board voted to hire a new AD. Previous AD and head coach Chris Hicks departed the district to coach at Hull-Daisetta.
A statement from the CISD Board of Trustees cited Coker’s experience and passion for developing student athletes, on and off the field, as “a great asset” for CISD.
“We are excited for the positive impact he will have on our athletes, coaches and community,” Lee said.
Coker comes to Tyler County with his wife, Deedra. The couple have two grown sons, Dalen and Brandon.
