Former DeSoto High School Boys’ Basketball Coach Dyer Remembers DHS Alum and Dallas College Coach Dwight Coleman, Jr.
DESOTO, TEXAS - Former DeSoto High School Eagles Basketball coach Chris Dyer, remembers Dallas Christian College Coach Dwight Coleman, Jr. who passed away unexpectedly April 5, 2022 at age 37.
DHS Coach Dyer met Dwight Coleman, Jr. during his frequent visits to middle school campuses to do work with younger district student-athletes. Coleman, a young, thin 7th-grade adolescent attending DeSoto West Middle School was extremely confident about his skills as an up-and-coming basketball player.
“He had a big personality and I wondered who is this young man and if he would make varsity,” said Coach Dyer who shared that he would also take time to mentor him occasionally at the campus.
Dyer soon became Coleman’s coach once he joined the DeSoto High School Eagles basketball team and when he donned his No. 22 jersey. Dyer quickly saw the impact of his talent on the court and over the years, he became someone really special.
Dwight Coleman, Jr. wearing his DeSoto No.22 jersey is pictured here alongside Coach Dyer and the other members this state championship team.
“He broke his foot at the start of the 2002 -2003 season and once we got him back in district playing, we began to be a bit better,” said Dyer as he reflected on their winning season together. “Our first game in the district was against Cedar Hill that year and he made 27 points.”
With Dyer as his head coach and the talents of the 2003 district championship team, the DeSoto Eagles Basketball team claimed their first UIL State championship title in the history of the program.
Coleman graduated from DeSoto High School the following year in 2004 and went on to continue his collegiate basketball career at Kilgore Junior College and Dallas Baptist University, graduating with a degree in Kinesiology. Coleman played basketball overseas on three continents before returning to Dallas Fort Worth as the head coach at Nolan Catholic High School, working as an assistant coach at Texas Wesleyan University, coaching in the AAU League, and then leading at Dallas Christian College as the head basketball coach.
He kept connected with Dyer throughout his professional journey.
“He was very dear to me and I had the fine privilege of being there for his whole journey,” Dyer said as he spoke to the joy of seeing Coleman coach the game that allowed their paths to cross.
“I had the marvelous opportunity to see him coach numerous times from AAU games to Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth and Dallas Christian College,” he said. “I was just so amazed at how much he had grown into a great coach and a young Christian man.”
Regarding the thought of his guidance as an inspiration for Coleman as a coach, Dyer shared the following. “He would try to share things like that but - I wouldn’t let him. I just like to think that we inspired each other.”
Off the court, Dyer spoke about how Coleman transitioned from a student to coach and ultimately a good friend. According to Dyer, he inspired those around him and quickly connected with others.
“He had such a big personality and a big heart,” said Dyer who also spoke about how Coleman continued the job of mentoring the next generation and created forums for his former coaches to inspire other youth in the community.
Dyer also expressed Coleman’s immense love for his family.
“He absolutely loved his wife and his children. He would often send me videos raving about his children and showing them playing in the backyard, throwing a football while saying, look at this pass coach!”
A 2004 alum, Coleman passed away unexpectedly on April 8, 2022, at the age of 37. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Tiffany whom he met while attending Dallas Baptist University, their six children, and a host of family, friends, and community supporters.
Dyer paused as he remembered Coleman and simply stated that “God does wonderful things through wonderful people.”