Guthrie High School athletic director resigns his post

Guthrie High School’s athletic director Gary Boxley has resigned his post after 14 years with the school district.

A resignation letter has been confirmed through the administration office and is expected to be formally accepted at the next Board of Education meeting.

The resignation is set to take effect on Oct. 3.

“Mr. Boxley is a highly respected member of the statewide athletic community, we wish he and his family only the best in what the future holds for them,” Superintendent Dr. Mike Simpson said.

A replacement has not been announced as to whom will now over look athletics.

“Obviously the timing of Mr. Boxley’s decision presents some challenges for us as a district.  We will post the position as soon as possible.  In the interim, we will develop a plan to share the responsibilities among several administrators ,” Simpson said.

Boxley came to Guthrie in 2000 and had coaching stops at Crescent, Marlow, Perry and Edmond Memorial along with stints in private business prior to his time in Guthrie. In 2008 his title changed to co-athletic director as some of the duties were given to then football coach Rafe Watkins.  Following Watkins departure to Muskogee last spring, Boxley was again given sole responsibility of leading Bluejay athletics.

Boxley, who holds the national record in high school pole vaulting, arrived to the high school in 1999 and during his tenure as the school’s athletic director had a total of 11 state championships in all sports and five academic state championships. He coached two state championship track teams, three state runner-up track teams and three state academic champions.

In 2009, Boxley was named the Oklahoma Track Coaches Association Coach of the Year and in 2010 was inducted into the Oklahoma Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame.