Mannford Community Rallies Around Basketball Coach Recovering From Cancer

Mannford girls basketball coach Tyson Tackett was diagnosed with testicular cancer last February. Making matters worse, while recovering from cancer, Tackett had a tumor removed from his stomach.

Less than a week ago, Tackett went back to the hospital and discovered he had brain bleed.

"He's one of the strongest people I know because for the longest time none of us really knew what was going on," Mannford basketball player Camdin Pierce said.

A teacher at Mannford Elementary School started a GoFundMe for Tackett to help with medical costs and raised over $6,000 within 24 hours.

"It's crazy to see that many people just come together in that short of time and it really just makes you love living in a small town like this," Pierce said.

Pierce said Tackett's coaching style is exactly how he lives his life: Always do your best, don't make any excuses and, no matter what, never give up.

Tackett’s players said deep down, he has a soft side. 

"He's one that everybody wants to be around," Mannford basketball player Lexy Elliott said. "You just get this positive vibe from him."

"There’s never a time you go to practice and you're not smiling or laughing or something,” Mannford basketball player Austin Tierney said. "He's always cracking jokes. You know Coach (Tackett) is having a good day when he has a Dr. Pepper in his hand."

"He'll be sitting there, and he'll throw his clipboard and he'll stomp his feet at us," Pierce said. "And then, after the game, he said, 'I'm sorry I didn't mean to do that,' and so, we'll make fun of him all the time. When we see him, we'll just walk up to him and stomp our feet and everything in front of him."

Tackett is back home recovering. Family and friends said he's looking forward to a return to the sidelines.

If you would like to help the Tackett family, we have a link to the GoFundMe here.