Legendary East Texas Basketball Coach is Stepping Down

Angelina College Legend Steps Down

The winningest coach in Lady Roadrunner basketball history plans to step down from his head coaching position and assume a role as a full-time faculty member at Angelina College.

Byron Coleman says the time is now to spend more time with his family.

“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.”

Byron Coleman's Legacy at Angelina College

Coleman leaves a program that saw him compile 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.

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.

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