Mangum High School Coach Garrett Pride has been with the school for three years. In that time he has served as the Head Wrestling Coach and has assisted in coaching both Track and Football. Pride shared that “The thing I most enjoy about coaching is the lifelong relationships you build with the kids, and watching them grow from a little guy to a senior and the development and hard work he or she has put in throughout the years”.

Pride explained to VYPE “I’ve only been coaching for 3 years but a few of my highlights would be winning the district title in 2021 for football, and seeing a few of my wrestlers compete and beat with some of the best guys in 3A. Just being able to see these kids succeed after all the hard work they have done is really rewarding for me as a coach”.

When we asked Pride what motivated him to become a coach his answer was simple. Stating “I’d have to say, my dad, he was a coach throughout all my young years and through High School and I noticed the impact he had on me and how much he helped me grow not only as an athlete but as a person”. He went on to share “he started with me when I was about 5-6 years old all the way until I graduated High School and has built me into the man I am today”.

As he discussed others who inspired him he recalled “Matt Terry, he was my Head Coach in football when I was in high school, just the relationship he and I had and still have to this day is tight. And the final one is Sam Powers, current Head Coach at Mangum, he is the one who has given me the opportunity to do what I love and allows me to coach at a high and intense level”.