I am writing this letter to honor my brother, Todd Friend, and to celebrate his wonderful career as Fort Gibson's football coach. Over the past 13 years, Todd has transformed this program into a strong organization while mentoring young people with his positivity and selfless leadership.
This year, Todd stepped down as head coach to focus on his role as middle school principal while remaining involved as an assistant coach. He maintained a deep connection with his team and led them with unwavering encouragement. Unfortunately, on May 7, their journey ended in a competitive state semifinal against Clinton, where they lost 3-2 on the final two points.
Despite the ending, Todd's influence is felt far beyond the pitch. His coaching earned him the respect of his players year after year. To Todd, they're more than just players; they're family. He watched countless young people grow up and left an indelible impression as a leader.
Under Todd's leadership, Fort Gibson soccer won back-to-back state championships in 2018 and 2019, creating memories of a lifetime. He also led several teams to the national tournament in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with a record of 144 wins and 45 losses. He introduced new equipment to the program and, most importantly, instilled belief in the players – themselves, each other, the program and the coaching staff.
Although Todd is leaving the coaching position, his legacy has already been carried on by new head coach Zach Kobler, who led the team to the state semifinals in his first year on the job.
Congratulations Todd!
I'm proud to be your brother!
Eric Friend
Choctaw