The sun is barely above the horizon, but the sound of rhythmic footsteps is already filling the air. That pounding of feet on the concrete belongs to Coppell High School’s cross country team.
Among those runners is assistant coach and Money Matters teacher Devin Ewing who, in less than two years, became a steady presence in Coppell for athletes and students alike.
Ewing’s official title may be the assistant coach for Coppell’s cross country team, but her role extends far beyond the course. From managing social media, organizing pasta dinners, attending booster meetings and even joining the runners for a three-mile loop, Ewing has made sure the cross country program does not go unnoticed.
“I want the kids to enjoy every day,” Ewing said. “I help with the girls in pretty much all capacities and do all the little jobs you don’t think of.”
For Ewing, those little jobs add up to something bigger: visibility for her athletes.
“I just want to highlight the kids as much as possible,” Ewing said. “They’re the ones always working hard at and away from practice, and I want to be the one to make cross country a program that people talk about.”
Her social media work reflects that mindset. Alongside coach Landon Wren and other assistants, Ewing started “Runner of the Week” and “Practice Runner of the Week” posts, which have quickly become a team favorite.
Ewing’s journey in Coppell began after graduating from Texas A&M in 2022, where she began working at Cleveland ISD in Houston in 2023, teaching a mixed schedule of food science and Money Matters.
“That was the hardest five months of teaching,” Ewing said. “It was a very different experience coming in mid-year, but it was that experience and my past experience with cross country that brought me here.”
The shift to Coppell gave her the chance to combine both of her passions of teaching and coaching. Now, as a Money Matters teacher in C111, her approach in the classroom mirrors her approach on the track.
“The most important thing to me is making sure that the kids feel like they can talk to me,” Ewing said. “Whatever they need, I want them to know that I am there for them, whether that’s with a long discussion or with a snack.”
At Coppel, Ewing’s mornings start before sunrise when she wakes up around 5:30 a.m. for practice, teaches through the morning and manages cross country or track commitments, which are sometimes late into the evening.
“The biggest thing is to take one thing at a time,” Ewing said. “Don’t think about 30 things you have to do, think about one thing you have to do, 30 times. That really changed my mindset.”
That discipline has not only led to relationships, but it has led to both personal growth. Students believe her classroom feels like a safe space where they matter.
“It’s nice knowing that someone who is there always cares about me,” junior Avery Fishman said. “I know I matter when I’m around her.”
To her athletes, Ewing is someone they can connect to, a coach who listens just as much as she instructs. “She shows up every day,” Fishman said. “Seeing someone like that makes me want to be better, and it makes me have so much more respect for her.”
While Ewing gives advice and runs workouts, she believes her greatest responsibility is connection.
“I just want them to feel safe and welcomed and loved,” Ewing said. “Coach first, then friend, but I want them to come to practice and not feel like it’s a chore.”
On the course, her perspective has benefitted the cross country team for the better.
“Coach Ewing came last year and you could just tell she cared so much about everything,” Wren said. “She reaches out to all of us outside of school, fixes up equipment, manages socials, none of which we ask her to do. She’s dedicated, that’s for sure.”
Her kind personality and lightheartedness allows her to be her best and inspire others to do the same. That influence is also felt in the in-between moments of conversations about TV shows, laughter while telling a story or encouragement before tough meets.
“She uplifts not just a couple of people, but everyone,” Fishman said. “Her impact is widespread.”
When she does find free time, Ewing enjoys reading, cooking and baking. But even in those moments her mind remains focused on balance and perspective carries through.
“I just want to be a positive perspective in their day,” Ewing said. “If they walk away feeling seen, then I’ve done my job.”
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