William Coakley “Coak” Matthews was born to William Armond Matthews and Shirley Brooks Matthews on February 20, 1955 in Cleveland, Texas. Matthews was the second of three children, between his older sister Linda and his younger brother Eddie. Coak’s idyllic childhood was characterized by the tight knit community of Circle Drive. Coak began swimming competitively at a very early age starting his career in summer Junior Olympics in Cleveland, Texas. That is where his passion for swimming began.
He excelled in youth baseball as a second baseman, pitcher. He played high school football at the quarterback position, made varsity basketball team as a sophomore, ran track , while all the time continuing his swimming career in the Houston Swim Club where he was coached by Phil Hansel. After school, his mother would drive him to Houston to work out with the team. Coak made the choice to focus on swimming alone his junior year in high school. He spent his senior year at Memorial High School in Houston and was offered a swimming scholarship to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
As a senior in high school on his 18th birthday he was diagnosed with Type I juvenile diabetes and placed on Insulin which he was on for the rest of his life. This never slowed Coak down. It was just another challenge. He swam for the University of Arkansas, competing in the historic Southwest Conference. After graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration, he returned to Texas to coach the Quail Valley Aquatics Team, launching a long, storied career in swim coaching. In 1982, he moved to Arkadelphia to coach the Henderson State University men’s swim team, alongside the F.A.S.T. year-round age group team and Arkadelphia High School team, leading the Lady Badgers to state championships in 1986 and 1987.
He quickly caught the Reddie Spirit and remained as the head swim coach at Henderson State until May 2021. While coaching at Henderson, Coak added a women’s team alongside the men’s program he was originally hired to coach. Matthews was one of the most decorated coaches in Henderson history and was at the helm of the swimming and diving programs he named the Red Wave for 39 years.
In Arkadelphia, Coak met Mary O’Neal, whom he would marry on May 25, 1985. Together they created a loving family; daughter Sallie and sons Blanton and William, all born on December 27, 1999. A certified master level coach by the College Swimming Coaches Association, Matthews coached over 200 All-Americans, four individuals who won national championships and led both the men's and women's programs at Henderson State to numerous Top-10 national finishes at the NAIA and NCAA II levels of competition during his time at HSU. He was named the CSCAA National Diving Coach of the Year in 1990, the NAIA National Men's Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year in 1994, was inducted into the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Henderson State Athletic Hall of Honor in 2003. An icon of the sport in the state of Arkansas, Matthews' impact extended far beyond the campus of Henderson State.
Outside of competition, Coak dedicated much of his time to advancing the sport of swimming in Arkadelphia and the surrounding community. Throughout his career, Matthews taught and organized swimming lessons, summer All Star clinics, and camps in Southwest Arkansas. Coak loved recreational activity and the outdoors. He could often be found biking and running all across Clark County, competing in triathlon races, enjoying time with his family on trips to theme parks and scenic natural vistas, or gardening at home. Above all, he loved Jesus, and sought to share his gospel whenever and wherever he was able.
Coak is preceded in death by his father William “Bill” Matthews, and survived by his wife Mary, children Sallie, Blanton, and William, mother Shirley Manaski, sister Linda Cordell (Neal), brother Charles Edward “Eddie” Matthews, and niece Lindsay Cordell Fichter (Todd).
Visitation will be at Second Baptist Church in Arkadelphia on Thursday, July 1 from 4-6 PM.
A memorial service will be held the following day, Friday, July 2, at Second Baptist Church at 11 AM.
At the family’s request, memorial gifts may be made to the HSU Foundation designated to the Coak Matthews Scoreboard Fund. HSU Foundation, Box 7550, 1100 Henderson Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71999-0001 Gifts to this fund may be made at HSUsports.com/donate, select Coak Matthews Scoreboard Fund under Designation.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." - 2 Timothy 4:7
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