After building a small school basketball dynasty at Plainview High School, Robi Coker is taking on a new challenge.

Coker was approved Monday night as the new head boys basketball coach at Fort Payne.

“It’s a unique opportunity that we felt was best for our family,” Coker said. “Fort Payne is the largest school system in DeKalb County. We felt like it provided some unique opportunities for our three children. We have a niece and nephew already there. My sister-in-law works there. It all lined up for us to do what is best for our family.”

Coker spent 10 years Plainview, winning 274 games and four of the last six Class 3A state titles. His teams won 244 games in the last eight years – an average of 30 wins per year. The state titles came in 2018 and 2019 – both on last-second shots – and 2022 and 2023.

The Bears defeated Midfield 40-37 last month in the title game.

“I was extremely lucky honestly,” Coker said. “I inherited a great situation at Plainview. We had a great group of juniors coming back that first year and we had a phenomenal peewee and junior high program. I had back-to-back classes of seventh and eighth graders that were loaded with good players. They bought into the plan and worked their guts off. I’m forever indebted to them.”

Coker said the decision to leave the program was tough on many levels.

“My wife and I have been very fortunate to make strong bonds wherever I’ve coached,” he said. “The friendships and bonds at Plainview are something we will always cherish. There are so many people that have touched our lives in a positive manner. The group that has played for me over the course of the last 10 years has made me a better coach and a better man. Their unselfishness and willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed has inspired me.”

The challenge now turns to building Fort Payne into a competitive Class 6A program. The Wildcats went 10-19 in 2022-2023. They’ve had three 20-win seasons in the last 19 years and been to one final four (2009). They’ve been to the Northeast Regional just once (2020) since 2017.

“It’s a great opportunity for growth,” Coker said. “It’s going to take an all-hands-on-deck mentality. This is the first time I will have worked in a city system. Everyone should be a Wildcat. I think we have great resources. There is a commitment from the superintendent Mr. (Brian) Jett and the board to make basketball exciting there.”

Coker will waste no time getting started.

His first day on the job is Tuesday.

“Change brings a lot of excitement,” he said. “Building is fun. (Former Texas football coach) Darrell Royal said, ‘Building is fun. Maintaining is (tough).’ There is a lot of truth in that. I think as men we need new challenges, and I look forward to attacking this challenge daily.”

Coker said he plans to meet his new team on Tuesday and set a vision for the future.

“We have to be the hardest working team and the most committed team to be able to compete in 6A,” he said. “That’s the bottom line.”