MacArthur Highlander Coaches

Football Coaches

MacArthur Football

Photo of Brett Manning.

Head Coach - Brett Manning

Email:  Contact Coach Manning

Coach Manning has been the head coach at MacArthur since 2009, after taking over the program from his dad, Ernie Manning. He previously was an assistant at Burkburnett High School and came to MAC as an assistant in 2005. Coach Manning led the Highlanders to their first state championship in 2014 and they look to repeat that feat in 2016. 

Wife: Lori Manning           Kids: Elena 14, Kel 11, Cam 9

Michael Pooschke

Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator - Michael Pooschke

Coach Pooschke is in his 8th year as a football coach at MAC where he is the Offensive Coordinator and wide receivers coach. After Michael ended his playing career at Kansas State in 2008, he came to MAC to coach Baseball and Football. Coach Pooschke coached baseball for 4 years, and is currently the girls golf and boys freshman basketball coach. 

Wife: Heather Pooschke    Kids: Hallie 10, Maddie 7

Assistant Coach/O-line - Ernie Manning

Coach Manning was the head coach at MAC for 16 years, where he led the Highlanders to 5 state finals appearances. Ernie handed the reigns over to his son, Brett 6 years ago and the Highlanders have kept up the winning tradition, winning their first state championship in 2014. Coach Manning has had previous coaching stops in Rush Springs, Chickasha, and Pampa, Texas.

Wife: Jana      Kids: Brett 41, Chris 38    Grandkids: Elena,Kel,Zac,Cam,Bo,Case,

Leo Holmes

Assistant Coach/Linebackers - Leo Holmes

Coach Holmes has been a football coach in the city of Lawton since 1979. He coached 28 years of baseball, 14 as an assistant and 14 years as a head coach at MacArthur High School. Coach Holmes has been at MAC since 1988, and was previously an assistant at IKE for 11 years. 

Wife: Eileen     Kids: Kailie 35, Bret 31     Grandkids: Ava 8, Ellis 7, Jack 3

Max Plunk

Assistant Coach/Linebackers - Max Plunk

Coach Plunk has been at MAC since 1993, where he serves as the strength and conditioning coach and linebackers coach. Max Plunk has previously coached at the University of Wyoming for 2 years, Pampa High school for 6 years, and came to MAC in 1993. 

Wife: Kathy Plunk    Kids: Brady 32, Cody 30   Grandkids: Anderson 5, Lucy 4

Photo of Shawn Seeley.

Assistant Coach - Shawn Seeley

Coach Seeley is a volunteer assistant coach with the Highlanders and this is his first year serving in that capacity. His wife is a counselor at MacArthur, so he has strong ties to BIG MAC. Shawn also serves as a fireman in the town of Lawton. 

Wife: Katy Seeley     Kids: Lexie, Jax

Jimmy Hoskins

Assistant Coach - Jimmy Hoskins

Coach Hoskins is a volunteer assistant coach the Highlander football team. He brings with him 18 years of coaching experience at the high school level. Coach Hoskins is a valuable asset to the MAC coaching staff. 

Wife: Becke Hoskins   Kids: Brad 19, Taylor 14

Assistant Coach/D-line-- Jack Baker

Jack Baker has been an assistant coach at the high school level since 2006. He has had previous coaching stops at Millwood for 4 years, Putnam City for 2 years, Carnegie for 1 year, and Elgin for 1 year, before coming to MAC for the 2016 school year. Coach Baker specializes in coaching the defensive line.

Wife: Rebecca     Kids: Weston 12, Gage 5

Assistant Coach/d-line-- Odell Gunter

Coach Gunter has been the defensive line coach for the BIG MAC football team since 2005, when he came from his previous coaching job at Jackson Middle School. Coach Gunter also coaches Track and has previously served as a basketball coach at the middle school level. Coach Gunter is entering his 12th year as an assistant at MAC

Wife: Katrina  Kids: DaMeko, Quinton, Sydney  Grandkids: A'Nyiah, Quinton Jr, Quincy,Jacob

Film Director-- Tom Bell

 Tom Bell is the Film Director for the BIG MAC football team. Tom has been serving the football team in this capacity for over 20 years. Tom is retired from the United States Military where he served over 20 years of service to our country. 

Wife: Brenda    Kids: Becke, Scott   Grandkids: Payton, Janson, Brad, Taylor

Assistant Coach/special teams-- Phil Dennis

Coach Dennis came to MacArthur in 2013 after spending 20 years at the crosstown rival school, Eisenhower. Coach Dennis has been the special teams coordinator the Highlanders for the past 3 years. Coach Dennis has many previous coaching stops including: Caprock Amarillo, IKE Middle School and IKE High School. 

Wife: Jennifer Johnson Dennis     Kids: Callie 16, Cate 12

Volleyball

Volleyball Coaches

Head Coach - Cat Shelton

Coach Cat was born and raised in San Antonio, TX where she graduated from Oliver Wendell Holmes High School. Cat received a full volleyball scholarship to Vernon College in Vernon, TX. After receiving her Associate of Science from Vernon College, she concluded her volleyball playing career at St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee, OK. Cat graduated from Cameron University with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. Cat later received her Master of Education in Sports Administration from East Central University.

Cat has 10 years of teaching and coaching experience. She is an elementary physical education teacher and has been the head volleyball coach at MacArthur High School for 6 years. Prior to coaching at MacArthur, Cat coached volleyball for 4 years at Tomlinson Middle School. Cat also coached club volleyball in Lawton for Fury Volleyball Club for 5 years.

Cat is married to Antonio Shelton; they have two children, Trevin 10, and Lily 7.

Assistant Coach - Missy Choate

Coach Choate was born and raised here in Lawton, graduating from Eisenhower High School. Coach Choate was a collegiate cheerleader and graduated from University of Oklahoma where she received a Bachelor of Science in Education.

Coach Choate has over 20 years of teaching experience at the elementary level. Coach Choate is currently an elementary physical education teacher and has been an assistant volleyball coach at MacArthur and previously Tomlinson Middle School. Coach Choate is also an assistant tennis coach at Tomlinson Middle School.

Coach Choate is married to Jim Choate; they have two children, Mckenzie 19, and Matti 9.

Assistant Coach - Heather Patton

Coach Paton was born and raised in Lubbock, TX where she graduated from Monterey High School. Coach Paton attended North Park University in Chicago, IL and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. Coach Paton later received her Master of Arts in Education.

Coach Paton has many years of experience as a physical education teacher and strength and conditioning coach. Prior to joining the MacArthur volleyball coaching staff, Coach Paton was a high school assistant volleyball coach in Lubbock, TX.

Girl's Softball Coach

Jesse Stovall

Jesse was in the first class of 8th graders when Mac Jr-Sr High opened in 1969. At MacArthur he was on the first state finalist football team in 1971. He went on to obtain his degree from Oklahoma Christian College in 1978. A masters was awarded from Central State in 1984. Stovall has coached tennis in Altus, Hereford, Tx, Wellington, Tx and MacArthur. His first year as a high school coach was in the 94-95 school term at Altus. The previous two years he served as the jr high coach for the Bulldogs. Stovall and his wife, Lori( a special ed teacher in Altus), have four kids; Luke, who serves as a jr high tennis coach at Mac, Jessica, a vocal music teacher in Arkansas, Jaren, and IT specialist in Altus and Lyndee, a speech path for Lawton PS (Sullivan and Washington). Stovall was also in the first 3rd grade class at Sullivan Village when it opened in 1964. He is very proud of his Viking/Scot and Highlander background.

MacArthur Highlander Basketball

Basketball Coaches

Marco Gagliardi

Head Coach - Marco Gagliardi

 Marco Gagliardi is a 2004 graduate of MacArthur High School, where he was an all state basketball player and golfer. He is the 2nd leading scorer in MacArthur High School basketball history with 1,350 points. Marco went on to Seminole State College where he played 2 years of golf. He finally graduated from Cameron University with a bachelors Degree in Business Management. 

Coach Gagliardi has 12 years of coaching experience at the high school level. He has spent 3 years as an assistant coach and 5 years as a head coach of the Lawton High girls and Macarthur Boy's basketball team. Last year the Highlanders lost in the state championship game at Carl Albert.

Coach Gagliardi has 3 kids, Kade 8 and Hayden 6, and Braelynn 4. He married his wife, Ashley, in 2011 and lives on the east side of Lawton, OK. He loves playing golf, basketball, playing with his kids, vacationing with his family, watching the Dallas Cowboys, and reading his bible.  Contact Coach G

Varsity Assistant- Otis Oliver

Coach Oliver has been with Macarthur since 2019. he has 2 daughters currently enrolled at Macarthur. Coach Oliver has coached at many different places before landing at Macarthur. He loves to coach basketball, football and track. He specializes in relationship building with the students and works his hardest to get them into college.

 

Freshman Coach -Jerry Kassin

 Coach Kassin has been at Macarthur since 2018. He is currently serving as the freshman head coach and History Teacher. Coach Kassin has coached at numerous colleges and high schools in his 30 year coaching career. 

Cross Country Coach

Gregory Ford

Head Coach - Gregory Ford

Coach Ford joined MacArthur staff in December 2015, and debuted as the Boys and Girls Cross Country Coach in 2016. Coach Ford is a United States Track and Field Association (USTAF) Level 1 certified track and field coach. Coach Ford is also an assistant track and field coach, working with the boys and girls middle distance runners. Email

Girl's Golf Coach

Michael Pooschke

Head Coach - Michael Pooschke

Coach Pooschke has been a football and golf coach since 2009 at Macarthur High School. He is currently the Offensive Coordniator for the football team and the Head Girls Golf Coach. Coach Pooschke is a 2004 MAC graduate where he was an All-State football player and a member of the basketball and baseball team. He graduated from Kansas State University where he was a 2 year starter on the Wildcats football team while earning a Bachelors Degree in Social Science. Coach Pooschke has earned numerous awards as a player and a coach. In 2003 he was the All-Area player of the year and  in 2004 he was an All-State selection at middle linebacker. He won the 2016 area golf coach of the year and was selected to coach the Southwest Senior Bowl in 2011. Coach Pooschke and his wife, Heather, have two girls.

Baseball

Rodney Delong

Head Coach

Rodney Delong

I played baseball for Mac from 1981-1983. Signed with El Reno JC my Freshman year, then signed with Cameron afterwards but did not play. I began working and supporting my family at Goodyear for the past 26 years. I have been coaching baseball and softball for 30 years and have been a competitive travel ball coach for the past 18 years as well as a professional hitting instructor. I have been married to my wife Penny for 27 years. We have 6 children and 7 grandchildren. My son played four years of college baseball and is a college coach at North Texas. My daughter has played four years of college softball and won two State Championships while playing softball for Mac. I obtained a Bachelors of Science in Business, and an MBA from Western Governors University.  Email

Assistant Coaches

Jarred Lowmiller

Coach Lowmiller played at Westmore High School. He also played 2 years at Oklahoma Babtist University and graduated from Oklahoma State University. He was an assistant coach at Hennessey High School in 2013/2014 and a State Semifinalist. He then became an assistant coach at Chickasha High School 2014/2015 and State Semifinalist. Head Coach at Cement High School 2015/2016 for baseball and girls basketball while tripling wins for each sport. He has a wife Tracie and a 2 year old son, Jace.

Tj Turner

My name is TJ Turner. I have been playing baseball all of my life! I played baseball for MacArthur High School all four years and started as a freshman. I was blessed to receive All-State as a baseball player for my senior year in 2012. I just recently finished up four years of college baseball at USAO in Chickasha Oklahoma! My senior year of college, we went to the World Series in Lewiston, idaho! Upon completion of my college career, I signed an independent contract with the Garden City Wind of the Pesco League to play baseball professionally. I am blessed and excited to be coach with the Highlanders this season!

Tony Batchelor

He graduated from Mount Healthy High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He played four years of high school baseball and after graduation, went into the United States Army where he also played baseball. When he got out of the military, he came to Lawton Oklahoma and started coaching baseball in 2007 to the present.