Coach Cephus Named Coach of the Year

Cypress Ranch Head Baseball Coach, Corey Cephus, has been named the 2017-2018 Texas Coach of the Year for Boys Baseball by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

CFISD Athletic Director, Ray Zepeda, received the news in early January, in a letter from Dr. Karissa L. Neihoff (Executive Director, NFHS) and Richard G. Baker (Chair, NFHS).

“Corey Cephus has been selected to receive the 2017-18 Texas Coach of the Year award for Boys Baseball,” Neihoff and Baker wrote in the letter. “Corey was specifically nominated by your [Texas] state association, the Texas University Interscholastic League [UIL], as the most deserving recipient for this honor.”

Selecting the recipient of this award is a joint effort between NFHS and UIL.

“We rely on our member state associations to help us recognize those who are leading their sport, shaping their athletes and contributing in a positive way to their community,” Neihoff and Baker said. “It is our pleasure to recognize leaders and role models at the interscholastic level.”

The Mustangs had a great season under Coach Cephus in the 2017-2018 school year – making it all the way to state semi-finals in Round Rock, Texas. Coach Cephus was honored to receive the award, and had some great things to say about his program, assistants and his past with the sport.

“It is an incredible honor to be selected as the NFHS Texas Coach of the Year for 2017-18,” Cephus said. “I owe much to my assistant coaches, Jake Leonhardt, Zach Herbst, and Marcus Mendoza, former players, and the Cypress Ranch community.“I learned a great deal from Hall of Fame Coach Jim Gilligan at Lamar University, and Armando Sedeno, my mentor for 16 years during my time at Langham Creek High School. They both played a prominent role in developing me as a player, coach and person. I would also like to thank John Pope for his endorsement to take over the program he started from ground zero.”

CFISD is honored to have one of its own receive this prestigious recognition. With competition at an extremely high level across the state, Coach Cephus’ award solidifies CFISD as a baseball powerhouse.

“Our department is extremely proud of Coach Cephus, his staff and his program on Coach Cephus being honored as the 2017-18 NFHS Texas Baseball Coach of the Year,” Zepeda said. “We have always felt that some of the best high school baseball in the state is played here in Cypress and Coach Cephus’ honor validates that. Coach Cephus is a tremendous person and he is very deserving of this award. We feel fortunate that he is a part of our athletic family.”