Nathan Pennypacker selected as next boys’ head basketball coach

Guthrie Public Schools named Nathan Pennypacker the next head coach for the boy’s high school basketball program.

Pennypacker comes to GHS from Mangum High School where he led the Tigers to multiple conference championships and successful playoff runs. The Chickasha native has also served as head coach at Pioneer, Chickasha, and Altus.

“Guthrie has a strong tradition that speaks to the alignment between community, administration, and its student-athletes,” Pennypacker said in a statement through the school district. “It’s my hope that I can contribute, along with the other great coaches that have been entrusted with the culture that has been established. I’m proud to say I’m a Guthrie Bluejay and look forward to the bright future ahead. With great effort and enthusiasm, the uncommon can be accomplished. Go Bluejays!!”

His hiring is subject to approval by the Guthrie Board of Education on June 12, 2023.

“Coach Pennypacker has a proven track record of success as a head coach and also a program builder,” Superintendent Dr. Mike Simpson said in the release.

Simpson continued, “What sold me on him was his desire to grow the program from the lower levels up. That blueprint for success has served many of our other programs well and we hope this approach will also grow our boy’s basketball program. Because of his time in Chickasha, he is very aware of the competitive nature our schedule presents.”

Pennypacker replaces Sean Morgan, who resigned following a five-year run at the helm.

Pennypacker will look to build back the basketball program to where it was a decade ago when Pete Papahronis took the Jays over a decade ago.

Papahronis took five of his nine boys’ teams to the big dance where he had a 7-3 state tournament record, including two 5A state titles in 2008 and 2009.

Since Papahronis tenure, the Jays have had three coaches with a combined record of 99-161 (.559) and zero state appearances.