The community in Mansfield is heartbroken tonight with the news of beloved Coach Daniel Maberry’s passing. The 47 year old died Tuesday after a two-year long battle with Stage 4 Lymphoma.
After being diagnosed in January of 2018, Coach Maberry battled hard until he beat it that very same summer and got the all clear for football season. Then in October of 2018 news was that he would have to undergo more treatment as the lymphoma had returned. Maberry continued to coach during practice and from the sidelines on game days that season, but ended up missing the last four games.
With an 11 month break, Maberry returned for the 2019 squad for a short stint before an eight week long treatment that would take him out for the rest of the season.
Maberry spent 20 years with the Mansfield school district where he joined as an assistant track and football coach in 2002. Promoted to offensive coordinator in 2016, Maberry led the Tigers to back-to-back district titles in his first two seasons with a record of 21-5.
The community proved to love Maberry as much as he loved them. They raised over $99,000 to help fund his treatment; first with a GoFundMe that raised over $83,000, then a barbecue that raised another $6,000 and finally over $10,000 in a 2019 summer fundraiser.
Maberry spent several of the previous months in the hospital before his wife announced via a Facebook post last night that the beloved coach would be returning home for hospice care. According to Dallas Morning News, Mansfield Principal Trent Dowd shared news of Maberry’s passing with parents and students with a letter:
“As you know, we have been rallying behind Daniel Maberry, our head football coach, as he battled lymphoma for the past two years. The community has shared in this support by participating in various fundraisers, wearing lime green to bring awareness to lymphoma, and using the hashtag #MaberryStrong on social media,” the letter from Dowd said.
“It is with an extremely heavy heart that I share with you that Coach Maberry has passed away.”
Maberry’s heart, pride, and legacy will live on through all those he coached, taught, and loved. He is survived by his wife, Cami, and two young daughters.
Many have taken to Twitter to share their love for Coach Maberry:
Mansfield has announced that grief counselors will be available for any students and faculty who need their services
