Coakley returns to have number retired

By Steve Behr

Dexter Coakley’s return to Appalachian State was as much a family reunion as it was anything else Tuesday afternoon.

Coakley officially became the seventh Appalachian athlete to have his number retired in ceremonies at the Broyhill Inn and at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Coakley, who wore No. 32 from 1993-96, joins fellow football player John Settle (23), women’s basketball players Valorie Whiteside (33) and Carol Almond (22), men’s soccer player Thompson Usiyan (10), baseball coach Jim Morris (41) and volleyball player Traci Blankenship Smith (9) as the only players to have their number retired.

Each received a plaque and replica of a banner that had their name, number and years at Appalachian State on it. The sports information department also had a cloth poster made of each player.

Several former Appalachian State All-Americans, conference champions, Olympians, coaches and individual national champions were invited to the event, which drew about 250 people at the Broyhill Inn on campus.

The event was in conjunction with the installation of Chancellor Kenneth Peacock, who also attended the ceremonies.

Coakley’s wife and children, who live in Dallas, could not attend the ceremony. But Coakley called Appalachian State “home” and his friends, former teammates and coaches his “family.”

“I am actually speechless for the first time in my life,” Coakley said. “To be accepted into a group of athletes, for a little kid from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina to have his jersey retired forever at his alma mater, makes me proud to be a part of Appalachian.”

Coakley’s credentials are as strong as any who has played football at Appalachian State. He won the first two Buck Buchanan Awards, which is given out to the top defensive player in Division I-AA, back in 1995.

Coakley was also a three-time All-American and the Mountaineers’ all-time leader in tackles. He’s a three-time Southern Conference Player of the Year and a two-time SoCon Male Athlete of the Year.

Coakley said attending Appalachian State helped form the foundation of his professional career.

“As I sat in my hotel room, I tried to put together a speech, but instead I want to speak from the heart,” Coakley said in a press conference before the luncheon. “This is an honor. Appalachian is where it all started for me.”

“Appalachian has had a storied history, and Dexter has certainly played a role in the success of our program,” interim athletic director Linda Robinson said. “Appalachian takes great pride in having student athletes who excel on the playing field, in the classroom and in life. Dexter certainly epitomizes this type of success.”

All seven athletes who had numbers retired spoke briefly at a ceremony at Kidd Brewer Stadium following a video presentation of each player. A reception followed, which allowed fans who attended to mingle with the athletes.

Coakley was drafted in the third round by the Dallas Cowboys in 1997 and  played for eight seasons. This past year he signed a five-year deal with the St. Louis Rams.

Four years ago, Coakley was all set to sign a free agent deal with the Carolina Panthers. Former Carolina linebackers coach Sam Mills, who died of cancer Monday, recruited Coakley and actually had a contract ready for Coakley to sign.

Coakley, who has played in three Pro Bowls, was eager to sign since it would have brought him closer to his native South Carolina and it would have allowed him to play for Mills, one of his role models as a child.

“I modeled my game after his,” Coakley said. “He was one of my idols growing up because he spent all of those years in the (USFL) and finally got a chance in the NFL and had a career there and he dominated.”

However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stepped in at the last minute and offered Coakley a deal to stay with Dallas. Coakley, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 228 pounds, is similar in size to Mills, who was 5-9 and around 225 when he played for the Panthers.

“Four years ago I was in Charlotte spending a lot of time with (Mills),” Coakley said. “It was disappointing to him. When he left, he was under the assumption that I was going to be a Carolina Panther. I thought for sure I was there. I got back to my hotel room and had a message from Mr. Jones to give him a call.”

Coakley said he was still grateful for players like Mills and former Bears middle linebacker Mike Singletary for showing that smaller linebackers deserve a shot at playing in the NFL.

“He made it possible that we were looked at, that we were not overlooked,” Coakley said. “When we came into the game, teams gave us a legitimate shot at becoming athletes.”