Oakridge Coach Dexter Coakley is among the new Class of 2019 inductees into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame. Coach Coakley was honored in his home state on Monday, May 13 along with six other athletes who have achieved great milestones.
The WataugaDemocrat.com reported Coakley starred as a linebacker at Wando High and then at Appalachian State from 1993-96. He was the Southern Conference’s Freshman of the Year and then became the league’s defensive player of the year three times, in addition to earning All-America honors three times.
The two-time Buck Buchanan Award recipient (the first two inaugural awards in 1995 and 1996) signifying the top defensive player in I-AA, Coakley was a third-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys and played for the NFL team from 1997-2004, earning a spot on the All-Rookie team. He was named All-Pro in 1999 and 2000. In 1999, he also earned first-team All-Pro honors from Sports Illustrated and second-team All-Pro honors from College & Pro Football Newsweekly and Football Digest. His career in the NFL also included playing for the St. Louis Rams (2005-06). In 2011, he earned a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Coach Coakley joined The Oakridge School in 2013 and currently serves as Assistant Varsity Football Coach, Head Varsity Softball Coach, Head MS Wrestling Coach, teaches LS and MS P.E., and is dad to three Owls: Trinity ’21, Zahn ’23, and Micah ’31.
Congratulations on your latest honor, Coach Coakley!
