Gary Looper (Teacher / Coach 1971 - 1977)

Graduate of Granite (OK) High School

Attended the University of Oklahoma and Arizona State University

2 year letterman University of Oklahoma Baseball Team ( 1965 / 1966 )

Taught and Coached at Phoenix (AZ) North High School (1967 - 69), Waco (TX) Jr. High (1969 - 71), before accepting coaching and teaching position at Purcell in 1971

Came to Purcell High School in the Fall of 1971 where he was an Assistant Basketball Coach to legendary PHS Head Basketball Coach Boney Matthews and an Assistant Football Coach. Also served as PHS Head Baseball Coach

Named Head Basketball Coach at Purcell after Boney Matthews retirement in 1973. Gary served as Head Basketball Coach for 4 seasons (1973-74 to 1976-77) and finished up with a career record of (53 - 53) which makes him the 4th winningest Head Basketball Coach in PHS History.

Head Basketball Coach (1973 - 74) Class 2A State Champions that finished with a (20 - 11) record and registered the school's 4th State Basketball Championship

The (1973 - 74) PHS Basketball Team will always be remembered for having a record of (5 - 10) after losing at Ada (72 - 63) on Tuesday, January 22nd, 1974.

Starting that Friday night (Jan 25th) with a road victory over Pauls Valley (57 - 45), the Dragons cagers would reel off wins in 15 out of their next 16 games to lay claim to the Class 2A State Basketball Championship with a thrilling (53 - 52) victory in the finals over the Hennessey Eagles

Ironically, it was Hennessey that gave Purcell its only loss in that streak as they defeated PHS (68 - 61) in the Area Finals the week before. Purcell came back the next night to defeat Prague (69 - 64 ) in the Area Consolation Finals and qualify for their 12th State Basketball Tournament

Purcell beat Checotah (76 - 69) in the State Quarter-Finals and defeated Pawhuska (69 - 60) in the State Semi-Finals to set up their classic rematch with Hennessey in the Class 2A State Finals

After leaving Purcell, Gary coached and taught at Bishop McGuinness High School in OKC (1977 - 2001). Starting in (2001), Gary also taught in the Bethany Public Schools

Won 4 State Basketball Championships at OKC Bishop McGuinness ( 1998 / 1999 / 2000 / 2001 )

As a Head Coach, Gary teams won 5 State Championships, was State Runner-Up twice, won 8 Area Championships, and won 16 Regional Championships. Gary also coached 5 All-Staters

A member of the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association for 28 years, he served as its President in (1976) and its Executive Director from (1978 - 1984)

Gary has also been named "Coach of the Year" by the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association, the Daily Oklahoman, and the Tulsa World

A member of the "Inaugural Class" selected to the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2002)

Member of the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame

Member of the Oklahoma City Bishop McGuinness High School Sports Hall of Fame