‘I Truly Enjoyed the Ride’

Date:

Angelina College’s Coleman Steps Down from Head Coaching Role

Citing a desire to spend more time with his family, Angelina College head women’s basketball coach on Thursday announced his plan to step down from the position and assume a role as a full-time faculty member at AC.

“It’s been a blessing to wake up and do something you love and have a passion for,” Coleman wrote in a social media post. “So for me, I’ve been blessed. (It’s) time to spend more time with the family.”

Coleman leaves as the winningest coach in the women’s program history, compiling 326 wins in his 19 years as the head guy. Under his guidance, Lady Roadrunners teams never missed out on qualifying for the conference tournament.

Coleman was responsible for several “firsts” in program history. In 2019, his Lady ‘Runner team qualified for the national tournament, the first-ever AC women’s program to do so. Coleman earned Coach of the Year honors following that year in which the team shattered the program record for wins in a season with 29.

Two years later, Coleman watched one of his former players, Natasha Mack, earn a call during the WNBA draft – the only Lady ‘Runner player to experience the honor.

This past season, Coleman guided his program to its first-ever regular-season conference championship, earning him yet another Coach of the Year award.

Angelina College’s Byron Coleman, shown here celebration his 300th win in 2023, on Thursday announced he’s stepping down from his position as head coach of the Lady Roadrunner basketball team. Coleman finishes his 19-year career with 326 wins. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

Over his career, Coleman has coached numerous All-Americans, Region XIV All-Region/All-Conference selectees, and Freshmen of the Year honorees. Numerous players have moved on to the upper levels of collegiate basketball, with several of those eventually playing professionally.

Before assuming head coaching duties, Coleman spent seven years as the assistant coach for the Lady Roadrunners under legendary former head coach Dwan Coleman.

Coleman graduated from Angelina College in 2000 with an associate’s degree in general studies; from there, he earned a degree in Kinesiology from Stephen F. Austin University and a master’s degree in Human Sports and Performance from New Mexico Highlands University. He was a three-sport athlete at Diboll High School, competing in football, basketball, and track. In October of 2023, Diboll High School inducted Coleman into its Wall of Honor. 

Angelina College’s Byron Coleman, shown here during a 2024 game, on Thursday announced he’s stepping down from his position as head coach of the Lady Roadrunner basketball team. Coleman finishes his 19-year career with 326 wins. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

Angelina College is expected to announce the new head women’s coach in the coming weeks.

The email address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

Gary Stallard
Sports Information Director Gary Stallard, who also serves as a Liberal Arts Instructor, begins his eleventh season with Angelina College. Following a career as a U.S. Marine, Stallard completed his bachelor’s degree at Stephen F. Austin University, where he majored in English and Journalism. For more than 16 years, he has worked as a sports writer/columnist/photographer for the Lufkin Daily News; he continues to contribute free-lance articles on occasion. Stallard has won several awards for writing, including the Golden Hoops Award for basketball writing in 2003, Regional Sports Writer of the Year in 2004, and the Texas Press Association’s first-place award for column writing in 2007 and in 2014. He has also done basketball, football and baseball radio and live streaming play-by- play and color commentary for an ESPN affiliate. Currently Stallard serves as play-by-play broadcaster for AC basketball, baseball and softball games. Prior to arriving at Angelina College, Stallard taught English at Lufkin High School for four years. He currently teaches Developmental Writing classes at AC. He and his wife Susan live in Lufkin.

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related

Lane Closures Expected on Two Major Construction Projects

Motorists should prepare for delays and lane closures beginning...

Capitol Update: Protecting Our Children Online & Addressing Border Security

I want to start this column by offering my...

Pre-Construction Meeting Held in Nacogdoches

LUFKIN – A pre-construction meeting was held this week at...

Governor Abbott Encourages Texans To Take Part In Emergency Supplies Tax-Free Weekend

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Division...