The 1992 HHS graduate is going to be the high school boys golf coach, athletic director as well as drama, U.S. history, world history,government and drivers and safety ed teacher.
That doesn’t faze him and it is something he has been looking forward to.
Speaking to the Henryetta Rotary club this week, Been said he is eagerly anticipating being around the students and back in his home community.
“I planned on spending my career here,” he said of his time as an intern teacher in 1999.
That failed to materialize leaving him with the opportunity to go to Okmulgee as softball then baseball coach before moving to Mounds and back to Beggs.
Along the way, Been and his wife Stacy became parents of a daughter, Mabrey. As she prepares to enter high school Been said he wanted to give her an opportunity to do what she loves.
My daughter is not into sports. She loves to dance, sing and act. The performing arts program here is a huge draw. She also wants to learn and play golf.” He pointed out Henryetta schools, “offers more for Mabrey than Beggs.”
Both golf and the stage is something Been is familiar with. As a student at Henryetta high school, he participated in a couple of musical performances and developed a love for singing that he says stays with him.
He played golf with a pair of Henryetta stars, J.W. Vandenborn and Jeff Lawrence. “Jeff taught me a lot.”
Above all, Been says he wants to market Henryetta schools and point out the variety of opportunities. “Students can get a quality education, athletics, FFA, a lot of things that we offer some people don’t know about. I want to develop a culture of excellence where people see we have a quality school with our facilities and events.
One of his plans is to hold joint meetings of all athletes and coaches as a group to let everyone realize they are part of a family. “No matter what the sport, we are all wearing the same thing on our shirts and uniforms,” he said pointing to the Knight logo on his shirt.
