Well, Sam Pittman’s story is one for the books. A Joe Moore Award finalist, Pittsburgh State Athletics Hall of Famer, and NAIA First-Team All-American, among other accolades. However, despite this impressive background, he’s faced challenges with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Last season’s 7-6 record tempered hopes for a complete turnaround. Even so, Pittman’s transformation of a 4-20 team into a Top 20 program in just 12 games. A Top 10 team in consecutive seasons proves his ability to change a program’s trajectory. His partnership with former HC Bobby Petrino also highlights Arkansas’ commitment to progress.
But behind every success story there’s a backbone, and for Sam Pittman it was his parents who provided the foundation for his success. They showed him how to cultivate an unwavering spirit that defines his leadership.
Who are Sam Pittman’s parents?
Well, Sam Pittman was born into a coaching family. His father, Donald Pittman, a native of Beggs, Oklahoma, was one of sixteen children. After attending Fort Hays State College in Kansas and starting a family with his wife, Jackie Pittman. Then after raising five children, he returned to school to earn his master’s degree and get a superintendent certification. He then dedicated his career to various Oklahoma school districts, retiring in 1986.
Jackie worked as a librarian and secretary, while Donald and his sons spent summers renovating houses to bolster the family’s finances. But they made sure their kids followed their passion. “Dad was a coach at heart,” Ron Pittman, Sam’s brother, said to ESPN. “He coached both of us and made us pretty good players. He played baseball with us and taught us how to pitch and hit, He coached us in basketball, and we won a couple of state championships with our church teams, he taught us many, many things early in our lives, and we kind of got a head start.”
Sam, the youngest of Don and Jackie’s five children, excelled in football, basketball, and track at Grove High School in Grove, Oklahoma. A standout athlete, he clinched the Class 2A state championship in shot put in 1980. Post-high school, Pittman’s dream was to play football for the University of Arkansas. As a running back and linebacker, he’d attended a summer camp prior to his senior year and was captivated by the Razorbacks. Despite his father’s allegiance to the Oklahoma Sooners, Pittman forged his own path.
Where did Donald and Jackie Pittman meet?
Well, the details of Donald and Jackie Pittman’s first meeting are unclear, but their strong bond and immense support for their son Sam Pittman’s career are evident. Jackie, remembered as the ultimate superfan, followed Sam’s career closely, even receiving a Bulldogs blanket from her children during his time at Georgia.
Deeply invested, she consistently inquired about player injuries and future opponents until her death in March 2016. Ron Pittman noted, “She’d get nervous whenever she was watching games on TV, and she could barely contain herself when she was there in person. She hated losing; she was a superfan.”
Donald Pittman passed away in January 2020, having witnessed Sam achieve his goal of becoming a college football head coach. Donald and Jackie created a lasting legacy of love, support, and pride in their son’s journey, and they both lived fulfilling lives.
What ethnicity were Sam Pittman’s parents?
Donald and Jackie Pittman were proud Oklahomans through and through. Donald, raised in Beggs, Oklahoma, in a family of sixteen children, embodied small-town grit. He deeply valued hard work, family, and pursuing aspirations, which led him to earn his master’s degree and superintendent certification after he and Jackie had five children.
For the Pittmans, their Oklahoma roots defined them. Jackie complemented this with her warmth and resilience, working as a librarian and secretary while backing Donald’s coaching ambitions. Together, they created a home prioritizing sports, discipline, and family.
So, what was their relationship like?
Inside Sam Pittman’s Relationship with His Parents
Sam Pittman’s character and coaching are deeply rooted in his connection with his parents, Donald and Jackie. Jackie is his biggest supporter, enthusiastically following his career. Donald, a coach himself, instilled in Sam the values of teaching, discipline, and unwavering belief. When Sam landed his dream job as Arkansas’ head coach in December 2019, he excitedly shared the news with Donald. Sadly, due to dementia, Donald didn’t recognize him.
In January 2020, shortly before Donald’s death, their bond shone brightly one last time. In a rare moment of clarity in the hospital, Donald recognized his son, saying, “Well, Sammie Don,” and expressing his pride. Donald passed away on January 16, 2020, but that blessing “made Sam’s day and the rest of his life,” according to Ron Pittman. Their love and support continue to guide Sam’s coaching career.
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