School board trustees voted Tuesday evening to name the field at Wildcat Stadium in honor of Canadian’s head football coach and athletic director Chris Koetting.

Koetting announced his retirement at the end of the 2022-23 school year, citing health issues that have affected his cognitive abilities, and his desire to spend more time with his family.

The unanimous vote followed board member Courtney Trolinger’s reading of a resolution [see below] authorizing the renaming of the field, and citing Koetting’s legendary 20-year tenure as the Canadian Wildcats’ offensive coordinator, head football coach, and athletic director, and 31-years as a public educator. Coach Koetting and wife Rosemary stood during the reading, which was followed by bowed heads and tearful silence.

“The one thing I hope I did is make a difference.”

CANADIAN WILDCAT COACH CHRIS KOETTING

Trolinger’s motion to recognize Koetting by naming the football field “Chris Koetting Field” was seconded by Andy Orrell, and unanimously approved.

“I don’t have the words,” Coach Koetting said. “I wasn’t expecting that, for sure.”

“Like I’ve always said, the success I’ve had is because of other people,” he said. “That’s a bunch of ya’ll in here. This board, as long as I've been here, has always been so good to me, supportive of me. Without that, we wouldn’t have been able to….”

“This community is so important to me, and they have helped raise our kids and everything,” Koetting said, struggling to speak. “I’m just so thankful. I could go on and on. This is a tremendous honor.”

“We appreciate you, Chris,” said Superintendent Lynn Pulliam, “mainly how you did it. The success you have had in 13 years as head coach is pretty unbelievable.”

“The one thing I hope I did,” Koetting responded, “is make a difference.”

RESOLUTION OF

CANADIAN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

RELATING TO NAMING A PORTION OF A DISTRICT FACILITY

IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY CW (LOCAL)

At a lawfully called meeting on August 8, 2023, held in accordance with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, the Canadian Independent School District (the “District”) Board of Trustees (the “Board”) does hereby make the following Resolution:

WHEREAS, Chris Koetting served 31 years in public education, and 20 years with District in various positions and capacities, including: Offensive Coordinator, Head Football Coach, Athletic Director, teacher, and mentor to countless students and faculty alike; and

WHEREAS, CHS won two state championships in football in 2007 and 2008 when Coach Koetting was Offensive Coordinator, and again won state championships in 2014, 2015 and 2020 with Coach Koetting as Head Coach and Athletic Director;

WHEREAS, Coach Koetting had an overall record as head coach of 165-24, 49-10 playoff record and winning percentage of .873.

WHEREAS, the Board desires to recognize Coach Koetting for his outstanding record of success, years of dedication to public education, and his invaluable service to the District, its students, the Canadian ISD community and Texas public education; and

WHEREAS, in accordance with Chapter 11 of the Texas Education Code, the Board holds all rights and titles to the school property of the District, whether real or personal, including Wildcat Stadium; and

WHEREAS, the Board desires to honor Coach Koetting and his family by naming the field at Wildcat Stadium after Coach Koetting; and

WHEREAS, Canadian ISD Board Policy CW(LOCAL) allows for the naming of District facilities, or portions of District facilities, in recognition of certain individuals, as it states:

“A person whose name is considered must have made a significant contribution to society and/or education, and the name should lend prestige and status to an institution of learning.”

WHEREAS, Canadian ISD Board Policy CW(LOCAL) further provides a “facility may be named for a person who has served the District or community, especially in service of children.”

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE DISTRICT, the recitals contained herein are adopted by the Board of Trustees of the District as findings of fact and operative provisions hereof; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that through his many years of dedicated service to the students and children in Canadian ISD, Coach Koetting has contributed immeasurably to the academic and athletic success of the District’s students, and has been a positive influence on their development into good and productive citizens; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in keeping with the facts as set forth in this Resolution and the provisions contained in Board Policy CW(LOCAL), and in appreciation and recognition of Coach Koetting’s years of selfless dedication and significant contributions to the education and development of hundreds of Canadian ISD Wildcats, the Board of Trustees hereby formally names the field at Wildcat Stadium as “Chris Koetting Field” and we express our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Coach Koetting and his family for their service, sacrifice and contribution to our community.

The foregoing Resolution was approved and adopted by the Canadian Independent School District Board of Trustees on August 8, 2023.