Flower Mound’s Mangini tabbed as THSCA Wrestling Coach of the Year

At the beginning of April, the Texas High School Coaches Association released the regional coach of the year honorees.

For the Class 6A Region III girls, that selection was Flower Mound’s Tiffany Mangini.

Wednesday afternoon, she was surprised by her team, friends and family, being recognized as the state’s girls wrestling coach of the year, as voted on by her peers.

Mangini is finishing her ninth year at the helm after starting the program from scratch, culminating a recognition for her efforts that saw Flower Mound finish as the state runners-up for the 2025-26 school year.

“I’m in shock,” said Mangini after being handed the award by THSCA Executive Director Joe Martin and Assistant Executive Director Glen West. “The only people I can really thank are my dad, who’s a massive mentor (speaking of Mark Larriba, the longstanding head coach of the Flower Mound softball team) and my previous coaches. This award goes to them because I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have the mentors that I had.”

The team ended the season with a dual record of 23-2, champions of the Arlington Invitational, LISD Ladies Cup, War Games and Port City Classic.

“It means we can’t slow down,” said Mangini. “Everything we’re doing now, it works. So, our momentum isn’t going anywhere now, it can’t.

“We spent some time together in the summer and really got a chance to bond. It’s been a minute since we’ve had such a cohesive team. We started going to tournaments and seeing the girls perform some massive upsets, the ‘ah-ha’moment was when other teams started noticing some of our girls that we knew we were studs. The momentum just kept going.”

Of what the title of coach means to her personally, Mangini said, “You’re the mother away from home. You’re the teacher away from the classroom, you have to serve that role no matter what. It’s hard to turn it off but coach is the person they need most in the moments they need most.”

Chase Avants is a sports reporter for Star Local Media. Email him at cavants@starlocalmedia.com.