2026 GPynes

The Rabbit Coach Who Led the Way to State

Former Atlanta Rabbit coach Gordon Pynes first came to Atlanta when he was one month old. His grandparents had arrived in town in 1906 and operated a jewelry store for many years. Pynes was brought to town for the whole family to see. After that first trip, he made many visits during his younger days to see family. His dad had been an original Rabbit, serving as a quarterback during Coach Rabb’s last coaching year in the 1920s. An uncle had been on Rabb’s original Wolves team. Thus, Gordon was well steeped in Rabbit history. He had even accompanied his dad to a team reunion and met Coach Rabb.

A TCU graduate and Horned Frog, Pynes spent 20 years in Army service as a military intelligence officer. He traveled the world and earned a Bronze Star in Vietnam before retiring as a lieutenant colonel. His military service also allowed him to earn a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. In addition, he graduated from the Army’s Command and General Staff College and completed Spanish and Vietnamese language studies at the Defense Language Institute.

After retiring from the Army, Gordon took a job in Lampasas as a middle school coach and then moved up to the high school level, coaching football, track and cross country. After six years of establishing a strong program with the Badgers and helping secure an all-weather track, he decided to move on. His dad had moved back to Atlanta after a 55-year absence, and his mother had passed away. Wanting to be near his dad, Pynes interviewed for a job in Atlanta. In the summer of 1986, he became a Rabbit, serving as track coach and a football assistant.

Seeing the condition of the track in Atlanta, he quickly sought to establish pride and build the program. He realized the need for a cross country program and put together a team that would also provide distance runners for track. The first Rabbit entry in district cross country competition came in 1987, and the Rabbs won. Pynes’ distance team dominated cross country, winning every district title from 1987 to 2004. There were also several regional wins and a state runner-up finish. This translated into a strong distance presence in track and an East Texas track and field dynasty that endures to the present. Since their first district track title in 1988, the Rabb boys have rolled up 36 crowns in 39 years. Gordon’s teams were never defeated in district competition from the 1988 win until his retirement. Since 1988, the teams have won 12 regional titles and six state championships.

Before Pynes took the track reins, Atlanta had won only two individual state gold medals in track during competition from the mid-1920s to 1989. Since then, nearly 50 gold medals have been brought home by girls and boys in track and field.

The breakthrough for the Rabbits came in 1989, when the boys ran to the state track and field championship. That opened the gates, and the deluge of victories began. Pynes coached numerous Atlanta athletes who became big winners, including some who went on to college and professional success.

He approached track with the idea of being strong in every one of the 16 events, with three entries in each individual event. Such depth made his teams hard to beat. His coaching philosophy was to “make track fun and gradually bring each athlete along to reach their full potential.”

When Coach Ben Scharnberg arrived in 1988, the two worked together extremely well. Ben immediately decided to build the football program on the success of track. Gordon was all in, and the approach worked quickly as football began to dominate. Ben always fully supported track, coaching the shot put and discus and cheering for and encouraging every Rabb competing. His enthusiasm for Atlanta Pride spilled over into every sport.

At the close of the 1989 state championship, the Rabbs’ outstanding distance runner, Kevin Burgin, humorously remarked, “Great, but imagine if we had a proper track to run on.” Atlanta’s old, well-worn cinder track lagged far behind the all-weather ovals at most schools. Pynes set out to make that dream come true. He lobbied hard, and soon local fans began to join the push for an all-weather track. The effort produced even better results when the school board decided to build not only a track but also a new stadium around it. Thus came Rabbit Stadium and its track across from the high school. The first home track meet was held in 1996 with sponsorship from the Atlanta Lions Club. A year later, the Lions added Gordon Pynes’ name to the Runnin’ Rabbs Relays. Last spring, Gordon was on hand, along with three members of the record-setting 1989 1,600-meter relay team, to celebrate 30 years of the meet.

Gordon retired from coaching after the 2005 season and was elected to the Atlanta school board that year. Atlanta cross country and track continue as dominant sports under coaches Will Allen and Nick Miller. Pynes’ influence spanned almost 40 years in Rabbit athletics. He, former Athletic Director Ben Scharnberg, assistant coaches and many outstanding Rabbit athletes lifted Atlanta Pride to the highest level.

Coaches Pynes and Scharnberg founded the Atlanta Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018. More than 25 individuals have since been elected to the hall. Each member is honored with a granite plaque displayed along the walls beneath the press box at the entrance to Rabbit Stadium. Atlanta Pride in our school athletic programs continues to be a strong factor in our town.