Bixby Coach Wins National Recognition

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

BIXBY, OK -- A Bixby coach gets a big honor.  Getting the best out of kids of every age group is what earned Chauncy Haydon his national coaching award.  His soft spoken manner in an extreme sport may be what does the trick.

On Tuesday, Chauncy Haydon, the USA Gymnastics National Developmental Coach of the Year, was working with a class of tumbling tots, three and four year olds at Oklahoma Extreme Tumbling in Bixby.

The young gymnasts are learning the basics, but the facility trains national level extreme tumblers and trampoline competitors.

"We have several national champions, several national team girls," said Chauncy Haydon with Oklahoma Extreme Tumbling.

He's been training kids of all levels for almost 20 years.  Out of several hundred coaches across the country he was named a finalist and then at a meet in California earlier this summer he was named the county's top developmental coach.

Some of the moms who have children in his program agree it is probably his gentle giant approach to teaching that got him the national recognition.  What impresses the parents and obviously other coaches is his skill and willingness to work with and coach every level of competitor.

"We've represented our region at nationals the last three years with some of our kids," said Chauncy Haydon.

One of the athletes came home a national champion.