Mr. Coakley comes to St. Peter R.C. School following a Catholic education career that has spanned 16 years.  Prior to returning to Buffalo in 2009 for family reasons, Mr. Coakley was Headmaster and Principal of Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, a co-ed, Catholic, international boarding school located in Hays, Kansas.  In addition to his Headmaster duties, he also served as assistant to the  superintendent for Catholic Education for professional development plans focusing on content, pedagogy and spiritual needs of faculty and staff, school accreditation, and crisis preparedness and management. 

From 2008-2009, Mr. Coakley served as President of Ellis County Catholic Schools, where he was responsible for bringing the schools out of debt, building the high school endowment, and strengthening the academic program. As headmaster, he oversaw the elimination of close to $1 million debt, increased enrollment, added curricular and extra-curricular opportunities for students, conducted a strategic plan for the Ellis County Catholic schools, and worked to build up the endowment.

Prior to his positions in Kansas, Mr. Coakley held positions at various WNY Catholic schools including St. Thomas Aquinas, where he taught junior high social studies, English, and religion; at Immaculata Academy, where he taught American history, government and economics; at Mt. Mercy Academy, where he spent three years teaching ethics, ecclesiology, and the theology of grieving. 

In 2001, he joined the faculty of Saint Francis High School, and served as Director of the Paduan Scholars, the honors program at Saint Francis, as assistant campus minister and as a religion teacher. His duties at these three high schools also included advising student government and coaching debate.

Reverend Sebastian Pierro, Pastor of St. Peter R. C. Church commented on Mr. Coakley’s appointment, stating, “I believe Mr. Coakley will build on what Mrs.Maureen Ingham (the outgoing principal) has started and with his passion, enthusiasm, drive, energy, and creativity, invite all of us to use our talents to continue to make St. Peter R. C. School, an outstanding school of learning, a place to experience the love of God, to make new friends and grow in all that we do.” 

Sr. Marcia Ann Fiutko, Pastoral Associate at St. Peter R.C. Church, shares Rev. Pierro’s enthusiasm: “God has really blessed St. Peter School.  I personally know Denis as I worked with him at Immaculata Academy where he was well loved by colleagues and students alike.  We are lucky to have such an outstanding educator whose passion and heart really is in Catholic education.”

Born in Buffalo, Mr. Coakley has lived in both South Buffalo and Ireland. He is a graduate of Saint Martin School, Canisius High School, and Canisius College, where he earned his B.A. in Psychology and Religious Studies through the All College Honors Program, and his M.S. in Educational Administration and Supervision.  His honors thesis is entitled “Humanae Vitae and the Teaching Authority of the Roman Catholic Church.”

In addition to his passion for Catholic education, Mr. Coakley has also shown an interest in public service as well, having run for public office on four separate occasions. In 1995 and 1997, he was the youngest candidate in the City of Buffalo’s history to run for the Common Council South District seat.  In 1999, the Republicans, Conservatives and Right to Life parties endorsed him as the youngest candidate in the City of Buffalo’s history for the Common Council Presidency, referred to by some in his efforts to unseat James Pitts as “the other bow tie”. Lastly, in 2004 he was a candidate for the Buffalo Board of Education, backed the municipal and educational unions.

Learn more about Mr. Coakley's mission statement and education philosophy and read his Welcome letter.