'More than a coach’ Katy celebrates Loftin in final home game

By Tyler Tyre, Sports Editor
Posted 3/9/22

“It’s been an absolute blessing being here,” Loftin said. “I can’t think of a better place, that’s why I stayed so long. It’s just been an awesome place, the people, the support, it’s been fabulous.”

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'More than a coach’ Katy celebrates Loftin in final home game

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As Dianne Loftin walked out onto the field before Tuesday’s game against Taylor she was shocked at what she saw.

Loftin knew that some people would show up to celebrate her coaching in her final home game, but she didn’t expect the scene she saw in the stands.

“I had no idea it was going to be like that,” Loftin said. “I expected to see a few past grads and see people I knew from the area here and there, but I didn’t expect to see what happened today. There were people here that graduated in 1989, in 1990 that I coached that drove from out of town and out of state and it was just an awesome thing to be a part of.”

Loftin has been engrained in the school and city of Katy as much as any coach could be, joining the school in 1986 where she coached and taught students for 36 years. That time is finally running down, as Loftin announced she would be retiring at the end of the season. But her career couldn’t go uncelebrated, and Katy faculty, former and current students and appreciative parents all came out to show how much Loftin was appreciated Tuesday in Katy’s final home game of the season.

The Katy players made sure to keep things a celebration, beating Taylor 4-0 with the third seed in playoffs already secured for the Tigers and the whole team celebrated around Loftin after the game.

“It meant so much to get this win for us and for Coach Loftin,” said Katy senior midfielder Rebecca Partyka. “She always pushes and wants us to be our best and pushes us to the next level, so it was really nice to get this win for her. It was really important for all of us.”

Over the course of her head coaching career, Loftin garnered 430 wins and led the Tigers to six regional quarterfinals, helping countless of young minds who came through her program and the doors of Katy High.

“She’s been a huge role model for me,” Partyka said. “I’ve been on the team for four years and she’s spent so much time helping me and so many other players. She was always pushing me to be better and she’ll always be someone I look up to.”

As much as the players appreciate Loftin, it means just as much to her that she got a chance to coach them, and she couldn’t describe how much they all have meant to her.

“It’s been an absolute blessing being here,” Loftin said. “I can’t think of a better place, that’s why I stayed so long. It’s just been an awesome place, the people, the support, it’s been fabulous.”

More than anything, Loftin is grateful that she was put in a position where she could impact so many young lives.

“I truly feel like I was called to do this and to be in the position I’m in, to have the opportunity to coach all of these years and do what I love and help students, I’m just so grateful,” Loftine said. “I’m grateful for the people who have supported me and taught me and mentored me since I’ve gotten here. Gary Joseph and Ellen Beck just to name a couple. I’ve worked with some amazing teachers and administrators. I can’t put into words what it’s meant to me and I can’t imagine that I’m not going to be here. It’s hard and kind of bittersweet. I love it here.”

Katy ISD, sports, Katy, Dianne Loftin, soccer, girls, sports