UNION COUNTY, N.C. — Community and family members shared their memories of a football coach who was a mentor to many and radiated a positive attitude while he was alive.
A vigil was held Thursday at the stadium at Parkwood High School for Coach Terrence Gittens, who died suddenly last week.
Coach Gittens had two children and mentored hundreds of young men.
Students designed a memorial rock outside the school entrance in Union County with his favorite saying -- “Faith, family, football.”
[GoFundMe: Celebrating the life and legacy of Coach Gittens]
Coach Gittens also worked as a Career and Technical Education teacher. He taught entrepreneurship and career management classes in addition to his head coaching role.
He arrived at Parkwood from Cabarrus County in 2020.
“He’s a legend in my eyes,” his son, Terrance Gittens told Channel 9 at the vigil. “I got to keep on living his name out.”
His father was known as TG to people who knew him best.
“To me, he’s my hero,” Terrance Gittens said about his father. “He’s my mentor, my teacher, my general.”
Coach Gittens instilled his optimism to others.
“It just means a lot to come out here and see the magic that he’s instilled in this football community,” Terrance Gittens said.
Coach Gittens was a father figure to many, including Isaiah Mobley, who is a wide receiver for the football team.
“We were really close,” Mobley said. “I talked to him every day. He gave me a lot of life lessons, and I was just thankful for God for bringing him into my life.”
Students and staff told Channel 9 he always had a smile on his face and supported students both on and off the field.
“You’re not going to find a person who has crossed paths with Coach Gittens that doesn’t have glowing things to say about him,” Parkwood Athletic Director Rocky Richar said. “The thing that’s been so impressive to me is how wide of a net he cast.”
Before he passed, Coach Gittens tweeted about a school spirit night at a local sub shop. This week, the store raised more than $500 in his name in just a few hours for the football team.T
Coach Gittens’ funeral will be held April 16 in Brooklyn, New York. The viewing will be at noon, followed by the service at 2 p.m. There will also be a live stream available; you can access that by scanning the QR code in the tweet below.
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OUR ANTHONY KUSTURA IS AT PARKWOOD HIGH SCHOOL WITH A LOOK AT WHAT’S PLANNED FOR TONIGHT.
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ANTHONY?