University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Recognizes Christopher Pryor as part of National Girls and Women in Sports Day
2/4/2022 11:55:00 AM | General
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss recognized Gulfport High School coach Christopher Pryor Thursday night as part of its National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration at halftime of its women's basketball game against FIU.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day was introduced in 1987 as a remembrance of Olympic volleyball player, the late Flo Hyman, for her athletic achievements and dedication to promoting equality for women's sports. With all of Southern Miss women's teams and coaches in attendance, Southern Miss, was proud to recognize Pryor during the Lady Eagles' 65-64 buzzer-beating win over the Panthers for being an excellent role model and advocate for girls and women in sports. "We look for individuals dedicated to improving all phases of girls and women playing sports," said Senior Associate Director of Athletics/SWA Sonya Varnell. "Coach Pryor has been advocating for girls in sports for over 20 years, and has been very successful in the classroom and on the field. We are proud to honor him with our 2022 NGWSD Award." Pryor, who was born in the former West Germany while his father was on active military duty, played his youth soccer in Europe and south Mississippi. He is a 1999 graduate of William Carey where he received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees. A two-time soccer All-American at Carey, Coach Pryor, has served as an advocate for girls for over 20 years. He began his career as an English teacher and assistant boys and girls soccer coach at his alma mater, Gulfport High School in 1999. Coach Pryor earned his US Soccer National D, C and B license. In 2000, he became the Head Girls Soccer Coach at Gulfport High. Since 2010, he has also served as the Assistant Director of Coaching for the Gulf Coast United Futbol Club. Coach Pryor states his girls' soccer program prides itself on "having a family culture that thrives on hard work and selflessness." After being the girls head coach for 21 years, his Lady Admiral Soccer teams have won 17 district titles, with 14 of them being in consecutive years. During his tenure as Head Girls Soccer Coach, he has seen his teams win the South State Championship five times, and play for the Mississippi 6A State Girls Soccer Championship 5-times. He won his first 6A State championship in 2008, and became back-to-back State Champions in 2020 and 2021. Because of his exceptional achievements, his team received the 2021 MAX Preps #1 National Ranking for the first time in program history. Coach Pryor has won numerous Coach of the Year honors from the Sun Herald, Clarion Ledger, Mississippi Association of Coaches, United Soccer Coaches and MHSAA to name a few. His girls' soccer team continues to have the highest team GPA at Gulfport High school. Coach Pryor and his wife, Anna, are the proud parents of Christopher Carlos Pryor, an 8th grader at Bayou View Middle School.
