Council honors Coach Daryl Copeland for two decades of youth leadership

Garfield Heights City Council on Oct. 27 adopted Resolution 37-2025 to honor Coach Daryl Copeland for more than 20 years of coaching, teaching and mentoring youth in the city.

The resolution, sponsored by Councilwoman Stacy Collier and Councilwoman Jennifer Neromes and cosponsored by Mayor Matthew Burke and the full council, cites Copeland's years of service as a teacher and coach, Lake Erie League championships and an undefeated season, and his involvement with multiple youth travel teams. The council read the resolution into the record and then welcomed Coach Copeland to the front of the chamber for remarks and photographs.

Coach Copeland told the council he has lived in Garfield Heights for nearly 29 years and thanked family members, players and community supporters for their presence. "I've had the pleasure of mentoring tons of kids. A lot of them are already in college. Some are married. And this group of kids right here who I just got... I wouldn't be here without all of them," he said.

Mayor Matthew Burke and councilmembers praised Copeland's work and noted the value of volunteers and coaches in the community. The council voted to adopt the resolution and presented Copeland with a formal recognition; they announced arrangements for a presentation plaque that Copeland or a designee could pick up.

The resolution will be effective following the earliest period allowed by law, per its text.