Hinton Public Schools announced today that Coach Craig Pruitt died in an unexpected accident, a loss the district called “heartbreaking.”
Superintendent Marcy Derryberry urged the community to keep Pruitt’s family and friends in their thoughts.
She said counselors and support staff will be available for students and employees who need someone to talk to.
Pruitt was a familiar figure across southwest Oklahoma athletics. A native of Hobart, he studied at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
Community mourns the loss and sends prayers to Coach and his Family
He built a long coaching resume that included roles at Anadarko Public Schools — assistant football coach, assistant wrestling coach, and head track coach — before his time at Hinton.
He lived in Anadarko and was known off the field for his booming voice, fierce loyalty to his players, and a soft spot for the Green Bay Packers.
Those personal details show up again and again in the outpouring from the community.
Courtnery Stone summed it up plainly: “This is so heart breaking. Absolutely loved Coach Craig Pruitt and all his craziness. Prayers for his family.”
Melinda Scales Brookshire, whose son was coached by Pruitt, called him passionate and steady, someone who “showed up for them day after day.”
Such steadiness, she said, is what made his loss so deep for families and students alike.
Former students and colleagues shared small, specific memories that add up to a larger portrait. Charee McCain Hoar recalled Pruitt tutoring her during a seventh-hour football practice, helping with ADHD and math when she needed it most.
Also Read: Missouri Coach Targeted Me for Not Being Athletic, Forcing Me to Run While My Celiac Artery Was Already Being Crushed“He literally took time out of his 7th hour football to help me,” she wrote, later calling him “the man, the myth and the legend.”
Brooke Fuller, who ran track under Pruitt, remembered his catchphrases, “This bus is rolling!!!” and “RUN Phoebe.”
She described his speed walks, his hurdling cues, and even a barefoot victory lap; those tiny moments, she said, “left a lasting impact on so many.”
Andrea Michelle Gotcher said the news left her in tears and praised the community for rallying around the family.
Other responses were shorter but no less heartfelt: “Prayers,” “Rest in peace Coach Pruitt,” and “He will be missed by so many.”
Makayla Perez recalled a simple instruction, “do work”, that Pruitt repeated to push students toward their best.
Parents, former athletes, and coworkers repeatedly mentioned his belief in students and his readiness to challenge them to be better.
The school has not released funeral or memorial arrangements. Hinton Public Schools said it will share information about ways to honor Pruitt’s memory when those plans are finalized.
For now, the focus is on support: counselors are on hand for anyone who needs help processing the news, and the district is asking the public to respect the family’s privacy as they grieve.
Craig Pruitt’s record is easy to list: coach, teacher, mentor, but the comments from a grieving community explain why he mattered, and he treated people more than just his profession
He pushed hard, showed up every day, and left students with memories they still laugh about and lessons they still carry.
