Otis Chunn has been named the new Head Coach of the Tennis and Cross Country programs at Pampa High School. Chunn spent the 2025-26 school year at Rice ISD in Rice, Texas. He has family ties to the Amarillo area as his younger brother and family live in the Bushland and Amarillo area. He has lived in the Panhandle before.
“I like the area and the chance to see snow. I see a program that is ready to excel,” Chunn said. “I am here to help the kids and the community. I know a lot about the Panhandle and I am happy to be a part of it. It is still a place of honesty and openness in an ever-changing world.”
Chunn spent time growing up and playing sports at Jayton High School in Jayton, Texas. He also was a member of the Naval Academy.
“I played sports at Jayton HS and most of my Naval Career. Of course track and running were a part of both HS and Military. I have always believed that you learn as much or more about life from sports than in the classroom. Sports teaches kids how to socialize and compromise. Essential life skills. I really believe Pampa is ready to return to their glory days, and that is awesome to be a part of,” Chunn said.
When you include the years spent in the Navy, Chunn has around 40 years of coaching experience. He has spent 21 years coaching at the high school.
“I have coached nearly every HS and JH sport, so I am at home in the athletic arena,” Chunn said.
What is Chunn’s coaching philosophy?
“My coaching philosophy is to train to be the best, have fun, and meet challenges head on. Sports are about winning and having fun, but fun is the most important lesson,” Chunn said.
The main thing Chunn wants to see in his young athletes is for them to be leaders and role models both on and off campus.
“I want them to be honest and have integrity. I want them to be leaders on and off campus. I want them to be role models for the right things. Regardless, athletes know they are in the spotlight and how they behave does not go unnoticed. I want my kids to do what is right,” Chunn said.
A big aspect Chunn wants to bring back is the Fall Tennis Season. He is also looking forward to bringing back the Junior High Tennis program.
“I want to bring back fall tennis and support local schools in the area. I want kids to enjoy the game and see that there are other sports to play that are healthy and fun,” Chunn said.
Chunn wants to bring back the energy to the tennis and cross country programs in Pampa.
“My primary goal is to energize the tennis program and make it competitive again. I also want my kids to believe in their ability to compete in one of toughest 4A districts in the state in Tennis and Cross country. I am hoping, with the help of students and the community, to make Pampa a tennis hub and Cross Country hub,” Chunn said.
In addition to his athletes being leaders on and off campus, he is hoping to build a culture of winning the right way.
“I hope to build a culture of pride and winning. I want our kids to compete well, and do it the right way,” Chunn said.
What are similarities to cross country and tennis?
“Both require running and endurance. Both require a lot of training to be good. Both are fun with a team that supports you,” Chunn said. “Running is a necessary base skill for athletics. Kids that have endurance usually perform better than those that do not. I ran track in HS and I ran a lot in the Navy. I was very competitive. I played a lot of basketball, and running was key to being successful.”
Does Chunn view being the head coach of both sports as a challenge?
“Coaching is coaching. I have coached multiple sports, so I am pretty much aware of the different aspects of each sport. My plan is to start youth sports in multiple programs to help prepare our kids for future sports,” Chunn said.
Chunn says his athletes can expect him to always be there for any questions. What does he call his coaching style?
“Fair, Firm, Caring, Constructive and always there to try to answer questions. The main criteria for competing is effort and practice. That is what makes an athlete,” Chunn said.
He would like his athletes to bring forth effort and honesty.
Success comes in wins and losses of course, but how else does he view success as a coach?
“I have a lot of souvenirs from kids that have appreciated my efforts to make them better and those things are nice. What I really define by success is not so much win or loss, but how the kids handle it. Do they problem solve and try to get better or quit and walk away? This is where being around for a while gives you an edge. I have seen a lot of ups and downs and I can tell kids what the world is like,” Chunn said. “Athletics makes you a competitor and even losses teach us valuable lessons. I tell kids I learned a lot more from losses or questions on a test that I missed than winning all the time. I enjoyed the wins, but the losses taught me where I could improve and get better by making adjustments. The ability to roll with change makes us better.”
Chunn would like the community to know that he needs your support to help the programs in Pampa.
“Community support is essential to the success of any program. Support is positive input and volunteering where needed, not pointing out everything that might not be how you think it should be done. I will always be all in. If I get support, I am pretty sure we will succeed,” Chunn said.
What message would he give to students thinking about joining tennis or cross country?
“Do not be afraid to try. I had a freshman girl in South Texas. She played with the two-time state runner-up. They laughed at her when she started because she struggled - a lot, but two years later when she went to state, the laughers were watching at home. Success in sport takes a lot of work and effort. Do not be afraid to try. Tennis like golf can be unforgiving, but when it gets right it is a lot of fun. The more the merrier is my motto!” Chunn said.
What is one of his favorite moments as a coach or athlete?
“As an athlete we made the regional basketball tournament at Jayton in 1977. I was a point guard and they said we would lose every game. Went 13-0 and just missed state. I Coached NAS Corpus Christi Naval Hospital Men's Basketball Team to back-to-back base championships. My second year we had two teams and we were supposed to be #2, but we went undefeated for the hospital's second base Championship,” Chunn said. “The 12 member all star team selected that year had six of my players. Of course the young kid that went to state in tennis. I have had kids at state in Cross Country and Track. There are a lot, but when a kid looks at me with a huge grin and says, ‘Coach I did it!’ These are the most memorable moments for me in coaching. It never gets old!”
His Go-to motivation phrase?
“Believe in yourself!” Chunn said.
One word to describe his coaching style?
“Empowering!” Chunn said.
Why should Pampa be excited about the future of tennis and cross country?
“I want to see kids involved from an early age. I want to see kids that believe they are the best at what they do,” Chunn said.
Chunn will be hosting tennis camps on June 3-5 and June 8-10. For more information and to register, contact the athletic office at PHS.