Former Coronado High School Soccer Coach James Hyatt Passes Away

Well-known Coronado High School soccer coach and math & science teacher James Ray Hyatt (pictured above circa late 1980s or early 90s) passed away in Lubbock on Wednesday (May 16) at age 88 (b: December 2, 1939- d: May 16, 2018).

Coach Hyatt had a lengthy coaching and teaching career across West Texas. He was a 1958 graduate of Olton High School and he started his career in Olton after graduating from Texas Tech University with a bachelor's degree. He then moved to Hale Center, where he was head coach for girls basketball. After coaching in Hale Center, he moved to Lockney, then to Tascosa High School in Amarillo and on to Canyon High School in the 1970s. While with the Canyon Eagles, Hyatt served as head coach for their track team.

In 1979, Hyatt made his final coaching and teaching stop, joining Coronado High School in Lubbock ISD. While at Coronado, he taught Biology and served as head coach for Coronado boys soccer from 1985-2000.

Hyatt's Coronado soccer teams won City Championships each year until the soccer program moved into the UIL in the early 1990s. Then, his teams made the UIL playoffs each year from 1994-99, capturing Bi-District berths in 1998 & '99, making the Area round in 1994, '95, '96, '97, and '98, advancing to Sectionals in 1994 and 1997, and finally to the State Semifinal round in 1997.

While at Coronado High School, Hyatt also served as an assistant football coach under head coaches Jack Quarles, Ken Wallace and Butch Henderson.

James Ray Hyatt was married to the former Saundra Stout (pictured below). They had two children, Ryan and Matt Hyatt. He is also survived by Tessa Hyatt, who's married to Ryan, and their son Reed.

When he wasn't coaching, Hyatt enjoyed fishing, spending time in Red River, New Mexico, frozen burritos and complaining about the Texas Rangers.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Lake Ridge Chapel in Lubbock at 6025 82nd Street.