By Rick Harvey April 2, 2025

Coach photo by Photo credit:JD Olson Photography, LLC

ARKOMA — As the final whistle blows on his time at Arkoma High School, Head Football Coach Kathen Funburg is taking a moment to look back on a transformative two-year journey before stepping into his next role at Canadian Public Schools. In an exclusive interview, he shared the highs, the lessons, and the heartfelt connections that defined his tenure, while casting an optimistic eye toward the future.

 Just the way he responds with “the highs, the lessons, and the heartfelt connections,” goes to show his tenacity and forward thinking ingrained in his mindset. We wish him the best of luck in his new endeavor. 

 For Coach Funburg, the standout moments at Arkoma aren’t just about wins and losses—though the football program’s remarkable growth in year two, improving in every statistical category, certainly ranks high. “Building lifelong relationships with community members, school staff, and students—that’s what stands out most,” he said. “The tremendous growth in year two as a football program was special, but it’s the bonds we forged that I’ll carry with me.”

 That growth wasn’t limited to the stat sheet. Reflecting on the athletes he coached, Funburg pointed to the camaraderie that blossomed in his second year. “I saw relationships deepen,” he said. “They were playing for each other and for the name across their chest. That’s when you know you’ve built something real.”

 A coaching philosophy rooted in conviction has guided him through every practice and game. “Do what you believe in and do it 100% every day,” he said, a lesson honed at Arkoma that he’ll take to Canadian. It’s a mindset shaped by mentors like Bruce Harrell and Brian Haynie, under whom he started as a volunteer graduate assistant at Sasakwa High School while attending East Central University, and Zane Rose, who brought him on as offensive coordinator at Prue High School. “All three of those coaches I talk to daily,” he noted. “They’ve been great mentors on my journey.”

 Now entering his sixth year in the profession, Kathen’s passion for coaching traces back to childhood, watching his father’s old VHS tapes of high school games and later learning under his dad’s guidance as a player and sibling on the sidelines. “When my playing career ended, I knew coaching was the next step,” he said.

 At Arkoma, he found a supportive administration that fueled his growth. “I’ve grown a lot in many ways as a head football coach,” he admitted. “Arkoma has great leadership that helped me develop into the best head coach I can be.”

 As he prepares to hand the reins to Coach Jack Armstrong, Coach Funburg expressed confidence in the program’s future. “Coach Armstrong will do a fantastic job,” he said. “It’ll be an easy transition for the players and staff. There’s no advice I can give that he doesn’t already know.” Armstrong, who previously coached the Mustangs to an 8-3 record in 2021, shared his excitement for the role on social media.

 Leaving Arkoma isn’t easy, though. “I pray the community and parents know I love them dearly,” he said. “This place treated my family so well. God has put us in a new position where we can best serve Him.” That new position? A head coaching role at Canadian Public Schools, just minutes from his and his wife’s families—a major draw for the move. “I’m excited about many things at Canadian,” he said. “Being close to family is huge.”

 I’ll miss covering his Arkoma nights but can’t wait to see what he builds at Canadian High School.

 Before departing, Coach left one final thought: “I’ve always wanted to be a football coach. This journey—it’s been about more than football. It’s about the people.” And with that, he’s off to inspire a new team, a new community, and a new legacy.