Remembering Pat Price
It has been a tough week for the Oklahoma coaching community.
While Leodies Robinson was considered the father of Millwood football, Pat Price was just as instrumental in the development of Carl Albert’s basketball program. Price was Carl Albert’s first basketball coach, leading the team to several state tournament appearances.
Price died Sunday at the age of 71 and leaves behind a legacy of coaching. His sons, Jay and Tim, are the Titans basketball coaches now. Jay coaches the boys and Tim the girls.
Here’s a feature on Jay Price that originally ran Feb. 3, 1983 that talks about their relationship:
Being coach’s son paying off for Carl Albert guard
By Dave Pego
At the same time his mom was teaching him to keep his elbows off the table, Jay Price’s dad was giving him other lessons.
“He always told me, “Keep your elbow straight,’” Jay remembers vividly.
Good table manners aside, Pat Price wanted his young son to learn how to shoot a basketball properly.
After all, teaching kids to shoot basketballs was Pat Price’s profession then. He was first basketball coach Carl Albert High School ever had. And why shouldn’t a son learn his father’s trade?
Jay Price’s memories carry him back almost 15 years. . . “The first time I remember shooting a basketball, I was probably three or four years old,” the Carl Albert senior says. “And I remember my dad used to be on the staff of a summer basketball camp in Arkansas. I played on some small goals for younger kids there.”
Jay Price’s father has given him so many pleasant memories.
“I was always around basketball,” the Carl Albert youngster says.
“I traveled with my dad to games. And I would come up to the gym and he would take me in, all through grade school.
“He’s got to be my main influence in being able to play the game.
He’s probably the best coach in the world.”
It’s funny how things turn around.
Jay Price’s father provided him with so many pleasant memories as he taught him the game of basketball. And now, the Carl Albert senior is providing many pleasant memories for his dad.
Price is averaging 25 points a game for the Class 4A Titans. As floor leader and the only senior, the 5-10 Price has helped an extremely short Carl Albert team compile a surprising 11-6 record.
“My dad goes to just about every game I play,” Jay says proudly.
“He wouldn’t miss one unless there was bad weather or he was sick.
He’s my biggest fan.”
Carl Albert head coach Scott Valerius (who replaced Terry Dean who had replaced Pat Price) enjoys having a “coach’s kid” in his lineup.
“He’s the first one I’ve ever had,” Valerius said. “The hours he has spent in the gym since he’s been old enough to walk show up.
“And you hate to make out a guy as a superman, but he’s a 4.0 student. He’s never made anything but an A. He’s a pretty good ol’ kid.
He’s scoring all these points and doesn’t get a big head.”
Of course, it would be hard for Jay to get a big head. If he is doing something wrong on the basketball court, he hears about it immediately.
“I can hear my dad in the stands, yelling something I need to do,” Jay explains. “It’s no big deal. I don’t think the other players even know he’s yelling. It’s just kind of subconscious for me. I just know he’s up there.”
Jay always honors his father and his suggestions.
“He knows what he’s talking about,” the youngster says. “He’ll get onto me every once in awhile, but he’s trying to help. He’s not just chewing on me.”
The Carl Albert coach doesn’t mind listening to Pat Price’s suggestions, either. Pat is now a teacher at Draper Lake Bible School, but apparently hasn’t forgotten any basketball.
“I don’t hesitate to ask him for advice,” Valerius says. “He never comes out and says, “I would do it this way,’ or, “I would do this.’ But if I ask him, he’ll suggest something that might work.”
Both Prices make Valerius’ job easier.
Jay Price is the key to Carl Albert offensive production. “We’ve got other kids who can score, but he’s got to score for us to win.”
Therefore, the Titan coach tries to keep him fresh as possible.
“We generally try to find their least likely scorer and have him guard that man,” Valerius explains. “Covering the other team’s point guard, for instance, would take a lot out of his legs. Jay is as good a defensive player as we have, maybe the best, but we need his offense.
Still, he’ll sink off and help the others.”
Price does so much despite being only 5-10, including averaging about 5 5/8 rebounds a game.
“That would be a pretty good average for somebody 6-2,” Valerius pints out. “But he has to do that for us, because we’re so small. He realizes we all have to share the rebounding load.”
Jay Price never regretted learning the rules of the game from his father.
“There were always some rough times, but when you love the game you just keep playing,” he says.
The roughest time is easy to recall. Jay remembers a stunned seventh grader listening to his dad talk to fellow church members.
“It was always kind of a dream I would play for my dad,” Jay explains. “But that Wednesday night after church he was talking to everybody in general he said he had resigned as Carl Albert coach.”
Jay remembers his own silence.
“I was in awe,” he said. “I just didn’t understand why.”
But basketball continued to be a part of the Price family’s life and Jay may never stop loving the sport.
“I don’t look to be playing basketball for any real major colleges,” he says, “But I’ve had a letter from OCU and Central State and Bethany Nazarene.”
After that, he is thinking about seeking a career in mathematics or computers, and thanks to his father, there will always be a place for one thing.
“I’ll stick around basketball somehow,” Jay says. “I’ll figure out a way to coach somehow.”
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Comments
Pat Price left a legacy in more ways than one and it already shows in his family and others. We are pleased to have been priviledged to know him and will miss him.
I do remember Pat as being his family’s best fan…I also remember him as being one of the most loving people I know, along with Roy Carney…I love you and will always remember your smile always reached your eyes…
Erma Ford-Pete
Thank you for remembering Pat Price in such a nice way. He was my brother-in-love for nearly 50 years. We all loved him. We will all miss him.