Tidehaven’s Tiger Relays will now be named Mike Pierce Tiger Relays for Pierce’s lengthy involvement in Tidehaven athletics.
Athletic Director David Lucio made the announcement to rename the event - starting in 2026 - during the relays last week.
Lucio provided the profile of Pierce and the accompanying photo of Pierce when he coached at Tidehaven years ago.
“It was announced that we will name the track meet Mike Pierce Tiger Relays,” Lucio said.
Mike Pierce was raised Blessing, Texas and went through Tidehaven ISD and was a four-sport letterman in football, basketball, track and field and golf in his sophomore, junior and senior years.
After graduating from Tidehaven High School in 1980, he attended Southwest Texas State (now Texas State) and graduated in 1984.
Pierce was the Head Track and Field coach from 1987-1999.
His track teams won the district championship seven times and won six in a row from 1992-1997.
His 1995 team was the state runner-up and the 4 x 4 relay team won the Region IV title with a 3:20.1 and held the Region IV record from 1995-2000.
His 4 x 4 relay teams won the district title for nine straight years from 1989-1997 and again in 1999.
The 1996 and 1997 teams placed 3rd at the state Ttrack meet.
Also, he had pole vaulters who won district titles from 1989-1999.
One of his vaulters, Paul Horton, held the Region IV record from 1995-2001 at 15’9 1/2 inches.
Pierce’s athletes hold nine of the 16 school records at Tidehaven.
He currently serves as a trustee on the Tidehaven school board.
