On one of the more nervy days for high school coaches across Texas, Coppell’s nerves stayed relatively the same. The thought of facing new competition and new teams in athletic competition is a daunting yet exciting prospect for some, but those feelings aren’t applicable to Coppell.

For the second consecutive biennial University Interscholastic League (UIL) reclassification and realignment, Coppell remains in District 6-6A with Lewisville, Flower Mound, Marcus, Hebron, Plano, Plano West and Plano East for 2022-24. It is also the third consecutive realignment Coppell has remained with Lewisville, Flower Mound, Marcus and Hebron. 

“I was just shocked,” Coppell boys basketball coach Clint Schnell said. “Usually, [UIL] shuffles things up and when you’re a one school town like Coppell, you get put with different districts or different schools. It was a little surprising to see the same [districts] everywhere.”

While only the realignment for football, basketball and volleyball was released this morning, districts for all sports will be officially released by UIL in mid-March. Baseball/softball and soccer districts are expected to remain the same according to Coppell boys soccer coach James Balcom.  

Class 6A Region 1 experienced very few changes as a whole from the previous realignment. In District 1-6A, the El Paso schools all remained the same except for the addition of El Paso El Eldorado. In District 2-6A, six schools remained the same while Abilene dropped to 5A. Haltom moved from District 3-6A to 4-6A, with Crowley taking its spot in 3-6A.  

Prosper Rock Hill joins District 5-6A, with recent Class 5A football power Highland Park joining the Class 6A ranks in District 7-6A.

In all, only six changes have been made across all of Region 1: four schools moved up from 5A, one school moved down to 5A and one school changed districts. 

Seeing the same teams again after playing them for two years will increase familiarity in competition and allow for more knowledgeable preparation for games. The Coppell football program will enter the 2022 season with a new coach following the December resignation of Mike DeWitt. 

“I’m OK with playing the same teams but I would’ve wanted something else,” Coppell junior running back Michael Rodriguez said. “I studied a lot of film sophomore year; junior year, even though I was injured, I was still analyzing the film and helping the team. I definitely think we can be a really good team this year [because we know our competition].”

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