After 40 years, Daniels hanging up whistle

Photo by JD
Pat Daniels has retired after 40 years in girls athletics with TISD.
Photo by JD Pat Daniels has retired after 40 years in girls athletics with TISD.

TEXARKANA, Texas – Pat Daniels will have to find a new hobby to take up after the summer.

The longtime coach-teacher-mentor at Texas High has retired after a 40-year career with the school.

Daniels has wore many hats during her tenure at Texas High including, but not limited to, head girls track & field coach, girls athletic coordinator, assistant basketball, track, and middle school coordinator. She also had an influence on countless students, athletes and other coaches.

"They won't miss me near as much as I'll miss them," Daniels said. "It's funny how things turn out; the first time I wanted to retire – 9 years ago – I wasn't ready. I'm ready this time. I just have to figure out, when August gets here, what I'm going to do.

"That's when it's really going to hit me. I've done this forever. I never thought I would have been teaching and coaching for 40 years. It seems like it's gone by fast. I can't believe it's been 40 years."

She was hired by TISD after she graduated from Southern Arkansas University. She was a high school graduate of Blevins, Ark. For her athletics was a way to reach for something higher.

"Athletics has always been an avenue for me -- it was an avenue for me to get out of a small town when I was in high school," Daniels said. "That's where my focus started at. You don't always have the means to get out on your own, so athletics can be that tool.

"In doing so, you can teach them the responsible things in life to do. We teach that you have to put a lot in it, but if you do that you're going to get more out of it. I tried to teach life-long lessons and not just athletics."

Daniels stressed doing things right and tried to introduce hard work for her student-athletes as a life lesson that would help them well beyond the field of competition.

"I tried to teach the girls to be respectful and to give a good day's work, to get a good day's pay," Daniels said. "In life that's what we strive for. Everything beyond that is gravy. My kids have been the gravy and the blessings that come from hard work.

"I appreciate TISD for the opportunity to spend my career here and work with such great people and students. It's been fun."

Upcoming Events