Kristy Bryan: Outgoing Copan coach brought heart and soul to job
Copan High School Lady Hornet basketball coach Kristy Bryan is stepping down after more than a decade as head coach. Bryan is surrounded by her husband Tim; daughters Jill, Hayley, Abby; and grandchildren.
PHOTO PROVIDED
By Mike Tupa
February 20, 2025
Bartlesville Area Sports
Last Friday’s 55-40 playoff loss to Welch meant more than just the end of a season for the Copan Lady Hornets.
It also signified the close of an era in Copan girls basketball.
Head coach Kristy Bryan confirmed afterward she is stepping away after more than a decade on the sideline.
Prior to that, her husband Tim also served a few years as the Lady Hornets’ head coach and continued to assist Kristy. In addition, they followed with undaunted devotion their three daughters — Jill, Hayley and Abby — suit up for the Lady Hornets more than a decade ago. Jill achieved the rare feat of scoring 2,000 career points in high school.
Kristy guided the Lady Hornets to an 8-12 record this season — an impressive mark considering a shortage of varsity experience and players.
“At the beginning of the year, I wondered if we’d be lucky to win one game,” Bryan said.
Copan also had Welch on the ropes early, shooting out to a 10-point lead and winning the first quarter, 17-9. But Welch dominated in the second quarter, 20-3, and Copan never regained the momentum.
The loss wasn’t due to the effort of Elyzabeth Odum. She pumped in 30 points in her final high school game. Fellow senior Kamryn Van added four points. Rylee Preston also scored four and Zoey Secondine netted three.
“I hated to see it end for those seniors (Odum and Van),” Bryan said. “We didn’t make it as far as we would have liked to.”
Then, unconsciously displaying the competitive fires still blazing in her heart, Bryan added with a touch of emotion in her voice: “I went in expecting to win.”
Bryan plans to continue to teach at Copan. Assisting her this year for the younger team was Kirsten Ergenbright, a former Dewey High player.
In all between Tim’s service as assistant coach and head coach, the exciting years of their daughters’ participation and Kristy’s time as head coach the Bryans have been intimately involved with Copan girls basketball for more than a quarter-century.
Like the old philosopher said about all things mortal: “And this too shall pass.”
“It’s kind of bittersweet,” Bryan said, the tears almost trickling through the phone line.
Copan High School senior Elyzabeth Odum (21) battles for a ball with Wesleyan Christian School’s Kori White (2) during an earlier season game. Odum played her last game in a Lady Hornet uniform last week.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Copan High School senior Kam Van drives to the basket during an earlier season game. Van played her final game in a Lady Hornet uniform last week.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports