Wes Hearne has waited his entire career for this type of opportunity.

Hearne has spent nine years underneath Tom McPherson, who retired following the 2022 season after being the winningest active coach in Texas high school baseball, as an assistant.

During that time, Hearne absorbed everything he could from McPherson and other experienced coaches in the Tigers program, and he prepared for his own chance to be a head coach.

That time finally came for Hearne this past week as he was named the new head baseball coach of Katy following the Tigers final game of the season.

“It was just super exciting when I learned I got the job,” Hearne said. “It was really hard to keep it a secret since we needed to keep it quiet until the end of the season. But I just love these guys. I can’t wait to get going.”

Hearne knows how hard it will be to step in as head coach and follow in the footsteps of a man who led the Tigers for 34 years, accumulating 891 wins. While he hopes to maintain the Tigers success, Hearne knows it would be impossible to replace McPherson.

“I don’t know that you can replace (McPherson),” Hearne said. “I know that it’s going to be very big shoes to fill, but I’m excited to do it and I know we have a great group coming back that I will be able to work with. I just hope that can make me successful. At the end of the day, you are as successful as the guys make you.”

McPherson for his part, is very confident in the hire and is excited to see Hearne get the opportunity.

“He’s going to do such a great job,” McPherson. I’m sure he’ll move things around a bit and probably have a little bit more engine than a 70-year-old. But he’ll do a great job. I’m so happy for him. Just proud of him as a coach.”

Along with Hearne’s nine years of experience at Katy, he also has coached at Taft, Needville and Lufkin. His experience was a big part in him earning the head gig.

“Before I came to Katy, I thought that I knew a lot about baseball, but (McPherson) has forgotten more about baseball than I’ll ever know. But I learned how to manage and call a game because of what he does. He’s just phenomenal, he’s been a great mentor and I just hope he doesn’t change phone numbers because he’s going to be getting some phone calls from me.”

Katy will lose just four starters to graduation this year and will return a strong senior class of 11 players, including each of their top three starting pitchers. That amount of talent and the opportunity has, already has Hearne ready to go next year.

“It’s unbelievable what we have coming back,” Hearne said. “We’re going to have almost every pitcher coming back. We could run out four guys that can throw 90 miles per hour next year. The main nucleus of our lineup is back also and if they’re willing to work, we can go a long, long way.”