Daniel Maberry had it all. After 20 years in coaching, he was named the head coach at Mansfield High School, the lower point of the "V" connecting Dallas and Fort Worth, at 43. After 20 years in the district, 16 at the school and four as offensive coordinator, Maberry was named head coach in 2016. The Tigers went 21-5 in his first two seasons, reaching the regional semifinals both years.
And then, at age 45, he was diagnosed with Stage IV lymphoma, which is not curable. He is married with two daughters, ages nine and six.
Despite that news, Maberry had decided to continue coaching.
"When you're coaching football, you talk to your kids about facing adversity and how you respond will define you as a person," Maberry told the Dallas Morning News. "I'm going to respond in a positive way and overcome this."
As Maberry continues to coach, Mansfield ISD has set up a GoFundMe campaign that is nearing $70,000 as of this writing.
"I know it's going to be some rough months ahead," Maberry told the paper. "I'm going to be there as much as I can. I've been there all week, except for when I had to go to the doctor. I've had great support from my administration. One of the things that brings me joy is being around those kids every day. I can't have that taken away from me."