83R12337 BGU-D
By: Larson H.R. No. 983
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Larry Coker of The University of Texas at San
Antonio has built an exceptional record of success as a college
football coach, and his leadership has been instrumental in the
early achievements of the Roadrunner football program; and
WHEREAS, A native of Okemah, Oklahoma, Coach Coker played
football as a defensive back at Northeastern State University; he
graduated in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in history and went on to
earn a master's degree in guidance counseling and physical
education from the same institution; and
WHEREAS, After beginning his career as a head coach at the
high school level in his home state, Coach Coker entered the
collegiate ranks in 1979 as an assistant at the University of Tulsa;
he then worked as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State, Oklahoma,
and Ohio State before joining the University of Miami in 1995 as
offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and in 2001 he was
promoted to head coach of the Hurricanes; and
WHEREAS, He was just the second coach in National Collegiate
Athletic Association history to win a national championship in his
debut season, and he racked up a total of 24 consecutive victories
before suffering a loss; posting an outstanding 60-15 record in his
six seasons at the helm, he led Miami to three Big East Conference
titles and appearances in three Bowl Championship Series games, and
he was twice honored as National Coach of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Coach Coker spent two years as a college football
analyst for ESPN before being hired by UTSA in 2009 to build the
school's new football program from scratch; beginning play in 2011,
the team enjoyed unprecedented fan support from the outset, and the
Roadrunners established NCAA records for inaugural game attendance
and average home attendance by a startup program; the 2012 season
saw many highlights for UTSA, as Coach Coker guided the team to
their first victories in the Western Athletic Conference and in the
Football Bowl Subdivision; finishing with an 8-4 record, the squad
is well prepared to begin its initial season in Conference USA in
2013; and
WHEREAS, Through his knowledge, skill, and commitment to
excellence, Larry Coker has established the UTSA program as a
rising force in college football, and his teams are sure to be a
source of excitement for Roadrunner fans in the years to come; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby honor Larry Coker on his noteworthy coaching
career and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Coach Coker as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.