The Cleveland community was hit with sad news after Labor Day weekend, when it was announced to students that longtime PE teacher and coach Casey Dyer had passed away. The news was announced in a video recorded by Principal JoAnn Wadkins on Tuesday, Sept. 3 during fifth period.
Dyer grew up in Centralia, Washington and played baseball at Centralia Community College before transferring to Concordia University, where he would graduate with a degree in physical education. In 1999, Dyer took a job as a gym teacher at Cleveland High School, where he also became the varsity baseball coach. He would remain at Cleveland until 2013, moving to be an assistant coach at Hockinson High School in Washington. In 2018, Dyer moved up to the college ranks, becoming an assistant coach for the baseball program at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. At both Hockinson and Clark, Dyer coached his son, Brooks, who would later play baseball at the NAIA level for Eastern Oregon University. Dyer returned to coaching at Cleveland in 2021, taking a new role as the head coach of the boys golf team.
“Dyer was CHS athletics,” Vice Principal Sean Murray said. “He always made the staff happy to be here, and everyone loved to be around him. Everyone in this building knew him as a friend, and I’m not the only one who will miss him.”
Murray added that the mood in the building has changed significantly since Dyer’s passing.
“It’s definitely changed the vibes around here. Obviously it’s different with there being a coaching and teaching vacancy. But I think everyone who got to know Casey Dyer feels like there’s a piece missing at Cleveland,” Murray said.
Camille Adana worked with Dyer for 24 years at Cleveland, and spent 12 years teaching PE classes with him. Adana and Dyer worked together on events such as the Cleveland Hall of Fame ceremonies, and they grew close as not only colleagues but also friends.
“Casey gave me pure laughter and joy due to authentic dialogue. We talked about everything and did not have to sugar coat any of our feelings or perspectives. We also loved playing ping pong together and actually competing. Casey and I were a team and did behind the scenes work for the PE facilities and worked together for years organizing expectations for the Cleveland High School Hall of Fame Induction. The list goes on and on and on, but what mattered the most to me is the comfort of knowing he was here and the care he had for his students and athletes,” said Adana.
The news especially saddened players on the golf team, as they had been coached by Dyer their whole career, and he was incredibly close with the team. “Dyer was a super chill guy. He was like one of the boys,” said junior Riley Mortola. “Everyone loved him not just as a coach, but as a friend.”
“He was super important to me as I spent lots of time with him,” said senior Jack Robertson. “He helped the team focus on the task at hand while also making sure we were having fun.”
“Dyer was a great coach and an even better person,” added senior Sam Faherty.
On Friday, Sep 13, a memorial for Dyer was held in the library during Flex. Organized by the golf team, students, athletes, coaches, and staff attended the memorial to honor Dyer. Sticky notes were passed out where anyone could write down any memories or stories about Dyer, which will be shared with his family.
The future of the boys’ golf team is uncertain at the moment, as they will be looking for a coach in the spring. Despite the adversity faced by the Warriors, the team is determined to win for Dyer.
“The vibes are gonna be different, everyone loved Dyer and he made practices chill and fun. We’re gonna try and win it all for him,” Robertson said.
“Everyone on the team loved Coach Dyer, and our ultimate goal is to win state and make him proud,” Mortola said.
