Grant graduate sees coaching success in Texas

Curt Softley, born and raised in Grant, and now head coach of the Lubbock, Texas Christian High School boys basketball team, led the LCHS team to the Texas High School (TAPPS) Division 3A State Championship, defeating St. Francis Episcopal of Houston 55-51 on Thursday, Feb. 23.

St. Francis Episcopal was ranked number one in the state the entire season while Lubbock Christian moved up to the number three rating by the time of the championship game, going 15-0 through their district campaign.

“The team we played [St. Francis] was way more talented than we were, but we beat them with discipline and toughness,” Softley said.

Softley is a 2008 graduate of Perkins County High School. He remarked that his senior year was the last year of coaching for his high school basketball coach, Larry Pritchett. Softley credits Pritchett with helping develop his basketball philosophy. “A lot of things he taught me, I put into my program,” Softley said.

Following high school, Softley attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and played football four years for the Prairie Wolves, earning the Week One National NAIA Defensive Player of the Week in 2011. 

He is in his fifth year as head coach at Lubbock Christian, where his team finishes the 2023 season with a 32-2 record.

“We are so blessed to have really good kids at Lubbock Christian,” he said. “It’s so fun to coach kids who are respectful and kind.”

Softley also serves as assistant football coach (quarterbacks/defensive backs) for the LCHS football team, the state 4A football champions this past season.

Softley is the son of Don and Kay Softley of Grant.