GRAPEVINE, Texas — For nearly 30 years, coach Darien Mooney has been a cornerstone of Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District, shaping the lives of students both in the classroom and on the baseball field. A physical education teacher at Cross Timbers Middle School and the longtime varsity baseball coach at Grapevine High School, Mooney’s dedication has created a legacy—one that now spans generations.

“I would say this is my home,” Mooney said.

Parents who once called him “coach” are now sending their own children to learn from the same mentor who shaped their lives. Luke Oas, a former student-athlete under Mooney, is one of them.

“This new guy—and he was just that person, someone we looked up to and still do,” Luke Oas said.

Now, his son Cooper Oas is one of Mooney’s students.

“He helps me get stronger and better in life,” Cooper Oas said.

Mooney says it’s the relationships he has built over the years that keep him going.

“Everybody says, ‘Thank you for pouring into our kids,’ but the amount they give you is unmeasurable,” Mooney said. “I would say watching a kid go from 11 to 18, which I’ve been lucky enough to do with a lot of young men, is pretty special.”

With no plans to retire anytime soon, coach Mooney continues to shape young athletes and students, proving that his impact extends far beyond the game.