If you are looking for inspiration you don’t have to travel too far from Rockdale.
I was fortunate to be part of the local ministerial alliance in 2017 when our Tigers won a state football championship. Former Tiger Coach Jeff Miller had community pastors share devotionals before the games with our team and he had us focus on the topic of adversity that year.
I will never forget Coach Miller telling me, “Both teams will have adversity on the field. It’s the team that handles it best that will win.”
Obviously Coach Miller knows how to prepare his football teams for adversity and that shows up in his winloss record. Coach Miller has a 180-91 overall record. He also holds the record for most wins as a Tiger coach at 106-61. (He once shared that he has lost more games than any other Tiger coach as well.)
Where he coaches now in Cy-Fair where Bobcat Fight Never Dies, District 17-6A his record is 38-10.
Recently Coach Miller won the Coach of the Year award. Cy Fair went 11-2 overall and 7-0 in district play. They lost a heart-breaker in the first week, 31-30 to Bridgeland but they remained steadfast in adversity. They won 11 straight after that first loss, including a second-round playoff win against national powerhouse Katy, 28-21 in overtime.
This guy just keeps on winning wherever he goes. If you know Coach Miller you know he is humble and he always gives credit to the kids.
When asked about this award he shared, “Rockdale was great to me and my family for 14 years. It has been nice to come home to Cy-Fair and be able to spend time at the place where it all started for me as a freshman football player back in 1982.”
Winning this award at home no doubt is extra special for this state champion coach. Rockdale was privileged to have him for 14 years. Congratulations Coach! —ka— We have a new first-year tennis coach in Rockdale but he is no stranger to our community. Coach Dustin Strelsky is a state champion athlete in track and field events and we are all inspired by his ability to overcome adversity as well.
We are also celebrating his most recent accomplishment as a national champion tennis player. Coach Strelsky won the 2023 USTA National Wheelchair Championship in McDonough, Georgia. He is the 2023 Coed B Singles National Champion and the 2023 Coed B Doubles Champion. He is ranked No. 1 in the country right now. Wow…this is such a big deal! Coach Strelsky has plans to compete at higher levels, including internationally and possibly even at the Olympic level. He’s a competitor and he is a visionary. There is phenomenal growth right now in adaptive athlete programs and he is playing a part in this expansion. This past year at the NCAA Tennis Tournament over 15 schools competed.
We are for tunate to have someone with Coach Strelsky’s skill level, knowledge and experience coming back home to invest in our kids and our tennis program. Thank you to our Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Hunter Hamrick for reaching out and suggesting Coach Strelsky join his staff.
Congratulations to Coach Strelsky on being a national champion and we look forward to sharing in your success both on a nd off t he court!
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