Enter the Dragon's Layer

John Cooper School makes splash hire with Erik DeHaven

John Cooper School makes splash hire with Erik DeHaven
Erik DeHaven fit the bill. Via VYPE

Originally appeared on Vype

HOUSTON – John Hoye wanted to ride the momentum of John Cooper's greatest season in program history when it came to attracting a top-tier candidate for the next head coach.

Erik DeHaven fit the bill.

The St. Pius X coach was formally introduced on Tuesday as John Cooper's new head coach exiting Pius X after five years, spending last season as the Panthers head coach.

"We had a really good season and we wanted to capitalize on that and I think we're at a crossroads where we've done a lot of introductory things and we have established ourselves in our early years of SPC," Hoye, the John Cooper School athletic director, said. "We've made some noise this year and I think we'll be competitive again next year. I think you always want a coach that you have confidence in to continue what you've been doing.

"I think he has the ability to do that."

DeHaven takes over John Cooper School with 18 years of coaching experience at the high school, college and professional level.

"The biggest thing for me is to build something from the ground up," DeHaven said. "Cooper had a great season last year. I'm at a point in my coaching career the opportunity for the first time to really get into a K-12 school and grow them homegrown is something that really excites me."

The search was nationwide and Hoye said they received more than 70 applications. Three finalists were brought on campus and were great candidates but Hoye continued to say DeHaven stood out in the process.

In his most recent stop, DeHaven helped guide St. Pius X to a No. 1 ranking in the state and was named a finalist for the Touchdown Club of Houston Private School Coach of the Year Award.

"The last five years have been some of the best years of my life as far as coaching," DeHaven said about St. Pius X. "Tremendous support from the athletic director to head of schools. The kids are honestly a direct reflection of who they are from eight to three and it shows up on the field. It was a blessing and a tremendous opportunity to be there.

"Just like anything in life, I felt like the time is now."

DeHaven is taking over a young program as John Cooper School just completed its eighth season.

The Dragons are coming off their best year in program history, going 9-1 and finishing as runner-ups in the Southwest Preparatory Conference 3A State Championship game.

DeHaven wants to continue that upward trend as he takes over.


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Kyle Tucker returns to Houston this weekend. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.

The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.

On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.

The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.

Screenshot via: MLB.com



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