Coach Mike PradoCoach Mike Prado begins his fifth season at the Marcus Wrestling helm.He has been coaching for almost 25 years and was previously a coach at Grand Prairie High School. Read all about his background below. eMail the coach Telephone: 972.539.1591, Ext. 18107 |  |
Prado came to Marcus from Grand Prairie High School where he served as the assistant wrestling coach to longtime friend and coaching partner, Sam Pellissier, Jr. The two teamed up to produce four state placers, three regional champions, and numerous district champions between the years 1999 – 2002.
Prado was a longtime employee of the Oologah-Talala school district of Rogers County, Oklahoma before moving to Texas. He served the district in many capacities over the span of 22 years. He was the middle school principal between 1995 – 99 and was rehired for the 1999 – 2000 school term but opted to relocate to Texas to be near his children who reside in the metroplex.
Before Principalship, Prado taught Social Studies at the middle and high schools for Oologah as well as coaching football, wrestling and baseball. Prado served as the H.S. wrestling coach between 1987 and 1995. Two teams won district championships and qualified for the dual State championships. Prado served as the class 3A Eastern State wrestling representative for the state wrestling coaches association. During his tenure as head coach, Oologah crowned several conference champions, 34 state qualifiers, ten state placers, and two state champions.
Prado served as wrestling assistant and Junior High coach between 1977 and 1987. Five teams won conference championships and the J.H. program recorded over 100 dual victories over the ten year span. Individuals won over 30 championships, six Perry Champion titles, and three Outstanding Wrestler Awards.
As assistant coach, Prado was involved with three cultural exchange experiences with Japan, Poland and New Zealand. Oologah H.S. crowned its first State wrestling champion in 1983 and four would follow in the next few years. Prado assisted Pellissier at Oologah which claimed two division I NCAA All-Americans, a 2x NCAA Champion and Outstanding Wrestler, Seven individual National Championships, and two former wrestlers currently coaching H.S. and University programs.
Prado’s first coaching experience was helping his father (Al Prado) coach youth teams fo the Ponca City YMCA. The elder Prado was the HWT State runner-up in 1947, a member of the 1947 All-State football squad, and a member of the Ponca City Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Coach Prado holds a B.S. in Secondary Education Social Studies and a minor in psychology from Oklahoma State University (1977) and a M.Ed in school Administration from Northeastern Oklahoma State University (1995). Prado has two children, Eloyna (15) and Jared (13).