Delta Tau Delta - Texas A&M University

DELTA TAU DELTA Page 2 G etting Zeta Sigma Chapter off the ground as a founding father wasn't part of the original plan for Michael Coyne '93, but it was an opportunity he couldn't pass up. With a close group of friends who were two years older than him, Mike initially had no interest in Greek life. But, as his junior year was fast approaching and his friends were graduating, he decided to go Greek. "I met the core group of guys and immediately knew it was something I wanted to be a part of," Mike stated. "I was not joining something that already existed and wouldn't be adopting established traditions. Instead, I would be helping to create history and new traditions." Fast-forward 25 years, and his son, Christopher Coyne '21, followed in his footsteps and joined Zeta Sigma Chapter. While Mike fully supported Christopher's interest in fraternity life, he didn't push him toward Delt. He wanted him to go through recruitment with an open mind. "My message to him was to go through recruitment and put himself out there to explore all the fraternities and find the group of guys that he felt would be the best fit for him," Mike said. "When Christopher landed on Delt, it was a really cool feeling. Seeing him join a group of solid young men and knowing that I had a small part in paving the road for him to meet lifelong friends is incredibly rewarding." Being a founding father of Zeta Sigma is a uniquely rewarding aspect of Mike's ∆T∆ membership, but it carries even more meaning now that his son is also his brother in the bond. Christopher loves carrying on his father's legacy and experiencing that layer of brotherhood. "From the time I was a new member to now, it has been awesome having my dad come back and get involved with the chapter," Christopher shared. "I've enjoyed showing him the chapter today, introducing him to some of my best friends made through Delt, and hearing countless stories about his time in college and in Delt." For both Mike and Christopher, Delta Tau Delta presented them with opportunities to grow in ways they couldn't have imagined. The collective effort of all the young men who were a part of Zeta Sigma's chartering showed Mike what collaboration and teamwork could accomplish. Christopher's confidence in himself, his faith, and his friendships has grown exponentially since joining Zeta Sigma. While serving as the alumni chairman, Christopher gained leadership skills, and serving on the recruitment team has given him social skills that translate closely to many professional and business interactions. "I have been given opportunities to serve others and be a part of something that is bigger than myself, and for that I am thankful," Christopher stated. "It has given me connections with peers and alumni in my major, and it has challenged me as a leader." Thanks to the opportunities afforded through his Delt membership and his degree in business analysis, Mike has thrived in the banking industry. He serves as executive vice president, director mortgage specialty lending, strategy, and finance at Texas Capital Bank in Dallas. He also holds the Certified Treasury Professional designation and is halfway through obtaining his MBA from Baylor University—he will graduate in December 2020. "Obtaining my MBA is something I thought about doing 20+ years ago, and life got in the way," he said. "I am promoting graduate education for my children and thought what better way than to lead by example." Following Mike's professional lead, Christopher is studying finance and is interested in a career in either banking or consulting. He was recently admitted into the Commercial Banking Program through Mays Business School at the University of Texas A&M, and graduate school is likely on the horizon. Mike and his college sweetheart, Laura, have been together for 30 years, married for 24 years, and have three children. "Hands down my greatest accomplishment is my family," he said. You can connect with Mike at mfcoyne@yahoo.com and Christopher at chriscoyne@tamu.edu. WEBSITE www.aggiedelts.com FACEBOOK Aggie Delt Alumni FACEBOOK Delta Tau Delta - Zeta Sigma Chapter TWITTER @AggieDelts INSTAGRAM @aggiedelts DTD Strengthens Bonds of Founding Father Michael Coyne '93 and Christopher Coyne '21 Mike Coyne '93 and Christopher Coyne '21 are the first father and son legacy of Zeta Sigma. - f f l i CONNECT WITH ZETA SIGMA ONLINE

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