Roan’s Next Move
Roan, who has steered the Cooper Bulldogs for eight seasons, announced that he will vacate the sidelines to take on the role of assistant athletic director for Abilene Independent School District, a move that will see him succeed Lou Mora, who is slated to retire after the 2025‑26 academic year.
Mora’s impending retirement marks the end of a tenure that has shaped the district’s athletic programming, and Roan’s transition is positioned as a continuation of the program’s stability rather than a disruptive shift.
Roan’s 20‑year association with the school began as an assistant coach, progressed to defensive coordinator in 2011, and culminated in his appointment as head coach in July 2018 following the resignation of Todd Moebes.
During his head‑coach stint, he compiled a 52‑40 record, guided the team to eight consecutive appearances in the 5A UIL playoffs and orchestrated the program’s deepest playoff run in 2019, when an 11‑2 finish carried the Bulldogs to the regional semifinals.
The appointment also revives a piece of recent history, as the last time the district recruited an external candidate for the top football post was in 2006 with the hiring of Mike Spradlin, a move that set a precedent now being echoed with Roan’s internal promotion.