In an inspiring tale of determination and resilience, Kohen Maroney has made a remarkable return to football, transitioning from a regular college student and employee at Sam's Club to a key player for the Midwestern State Mustangs. Nearly two years ago, Maroney began showing up at a middle school field in Lubbock, Texas, with no coach or roster spot in sight, driven by a desire to rekindle his passion for the game.
Maroney, a freshman at Texas Tech at the time, found himself yearning for football after a period of inactivity. "I was just a regular student, and I worked at Sam’s Club," he recalled. "In my free time, I would go to that little middle school field, like I said, six days a week." His background included playing wide receiver and strong safety at Rider High School, but he had never considered kicking as a viable path until he arrived at college.
During his first semester at Texas Tech, Maroney felt a void in his life. "I loved it at Tech, but I knew something was missing," he said. It was in mid-October when he decided to take matters into his own hands. He began watching YouTube videos on kicking and practiced diligently at a local middle school field, dedicating five to six days a week to honing his skills.
After three months of hard work, Maroney reached out to Rich Renner, the head football coach at Midwestern State, expressing his desire to walk on to the team. Renner welcomed him with open arms, allowing Maroney to pursue his dream of playing football once again.
As a freshman in 2025, Maroney quickly made his mark, successfully converting 11 of 14 field-goal attempts and all 31 extra points. He even achieved a season-long field goal of 50 yards, which ranks as the fourth longest in the history of the Mustangs. His impressive performance earned him second-team All-Lone Star Conference honors, solidifying his position as a key player on the team.
Maroney's journey also brought him back to Wichita Falls, where his aspirations of becoming a Midwestern State athlete began years earlier. Growing up primarily as a soccer player, he had always admired the Mustangs from afar. His youth soccer coach, Patrick Fitzgerald, who is now the associate head coach of the Midwestern State men's soccer program, played a significant role in shaping Maroney's early athletic dreams.
Reflecting on his childhood, Maroney admitted, "As a kid, I didn’t go to a lot of football games just because I was such a soccer kid. But I would go to his soccer games all the time, and during that time, I literally thought the greatest thing on Earth was to be a Mustang for soccer." Although he never played soccer for Midwestern State, he now proudly wears the Mustangs' jersey as a football player.
Playing for Midwestern State has also allowed Maroney to stay close to his roots, with around 20 family members attending most of his games. He values the support of his loved ones, stating, "I think that’s my big thing, just being able to play in front of my grandma and stuff of that nature." This strong familial bond is a driving force behind his commitment to the team.
As he enters his sophomore season, Maroney aims to build on his successful debut. The Mustangs kicked off their season with a 30-23 victory over Missouri Southern, where Maroney successfully converted all four extra-point attempts. His aspirations for the upcoming season include earning first-team All-LSC honors and achieving All-American status, but above all, he is focused on contributing to the team's success. "I’d say my top goal is obviously I want to win the conference," he said. "I want to see all these guys succeed. I want to win a lot of games, and hopefully turn things around."
Leave a Comment