Coheley’s squads won the University Interscholastic League Class 2A championship in 2007, three District 25-2A titles and advanced to the playoffs each season.
But even with all the success, Coheley came to a family-based decision to leave Rogers behind and move his wife and two children closer to his native home of Wichita Falls.
After serving as the head baseball coach, freshman basketball coach and defensive line coach in football for the Eagles, Coheley officially resigned from his duties at Rogers on Tuesday to take a position at Class 3A Farmersville - located about 150 miles from Wichita Falls - beginning in the fall.
“This has nothing to do with the people at Rogers because they’ve been good to me for the last five years,” said Coheley, who will be the head baseball coach and defensive line coach in football at Farmersville. “The kids in Rogers are great. I’m going to miss them a whole deal. But at the same time, I have to start a new chapter in my life.”
During his tenure at Rogers, Coheley’s squads compiled a 135-34-1 record, including 58-10 in district play. The Eagles reached the state tournament in 2006 and 2007 and have made the playoffs five straight seasons. Before Coheley arrived, Rogers hadn’t been to the playoffs since 1993.
The 2007 state championship team outscored its playoff opponents 85-14 and beat Hooks 8-4 in the final to win the first state title in any team sport at Rogers High School.
Ever since that day when Coheley’s squad reached the pinnacle, the choice to be closer to his family had been weighing on his mind. Coheley, who spent the first 40 years of his life in Wichita Falls, said he would like his two boys, ages 5 and 10, to be able to spend more time with their grandparents.
“My kids are growing up and this move will make it easier for them to see their extended family a lot more,” said Coheley, whose previous coaching stints were at Wichita Falls Hirschi, Wichita Falls Rider and Holliday, which he led to the 2A state tournament in 1992.
Along with Rogers’ state championship team, Coheley said he was most proud of coaching three very differently comprised teams.
In his first year in 2004, he coached a senior-laden group that won the district championship. From 2005-07, a determined and talented bunch led by standout left-hander Taylor Jungmann played an integral role in leading the Eagles to state prominence.
In his final year, Coheley’s inexperienced crew went 26-10, finished district as runner-up to eventual 2A champion Salado and advanced to the Region IV quarterfinals before losing to Lexington. The Eagles return eight starters - Chance Marek, Cameron Doskocil, Travis Perkins, Gregory Mendoza, Ryan Fares, Dustin Hamilton, Jordan Sebek and Stephen Hines - who expect to carry on the Rogers baseball tradition.
“Their hard work and effort put Rogers baseball on the map,” Coheley said about the players he has coached during his five-year reign. “There are eight returning starters and those kids have aspirations for next year. I feel good in the situation that I’m leaving because they should start next season in the top five.”
Rogers athletic director John Stillwell was surprised when he heard of Coheley’s announcement on Tuesday.
“I wish him the best,” Stillwell said. “Obviously he had a lot of success here. He took our program to new heights.”
Stillwell said the search for a new baseball coach will begin immediately.
