For more than a century, the Coker-Ogletree family owned the land on which the school is located. In 1992 Coker descendants made the land available to the Murray County School System. In recognition of their contribution, the school building is named Coker Elementary School.

Coker opened in 1994 with 660 students and 80 staff members. Mrs. Kinma Bond served as the principal - the first female principal in the county's history. At that time, faculty members from the other four elementary schools came together to form the Coker staff.

Mrs. Bond was the principal at Coker Elementary for ten years. She retired as principal at the end of the 2003-2004 school year.  

Ms. Barbie Kendrick was Coker's second principal. She served as principal for four years; 2004-2008. She left Coker to become the Elementary Curriculum Director for Murray County Schools.

Ms. Donna Standridge was Coker's third principal. She began her term with the 2008-2009 school year. 

Coker's fourth principal was Dr. Brett James who began his tenure in the 2012-2013 school year.  Dr. James served as principal for four years.

The fifth in line, as Coker's principal, was Dr. Daphne Winkler.  Dr. Winkler served as an assistant principal at Bagley for five years before being named the principal of Coker Elementary.  She was the principal from 2018-2021.

The current principal at Coker Elementary School is Dr. Jennifer Reed.  Dr. Reed has held various positions in the Murray County School system. She is also attended Coker as a student!