The Scott Stewart era is set to begin at Cooper, and the longtime Cougars assistant feels this year’s team is both ready and equipped to continue a run of success that has seen the program produce 19 consecutive playoff seasons.

With 26 lettermen returning, including five offensive and six defensive starters, and call-ups from a 9-1 junior varsity team filling any gaps created by graduated losses, the CHS staff feels good about the nucleus it’s building from this fall.

That, combined with a smooth transition from former coach Aaron Roan, who resigned in May to become the associate athletic director for Abilene ISD, to Stewart — Roan’s longtime defensive coordinator — has both the coaches and players excited about their chances of contending in District 2-5A Division II and beyond in 2026.