Pawhuska’s Tara Hennesy
Former Pawhuska High School graduate and current wife of Pawhuska head football coach Matt Hennesy, Tara Hennesy is involved with her alma-mater and her kid’s activities away from the high school.
Son Daegen is involved in football, wrestling, baseball and loves to hunt, while daughter Maida plays softball, wrestles and is involved in cheerleading. She also loves riding horses and is involved with the Pawhuska Round Up Club as well as both kids being members of the Pawhuska City Church. To say they are an active family is an understatement.
As the wife of the head football coach, Tara takes an active role in supporting the team.
“I design custom t-shirts, contribute to fundraising efforts for special events like Cancer Week, and step into wherever help is needed,” Tara said. “Being a head coach’s wife comes with unique challenges, such as navigating the long hours my husband dedicates to the program, feeling the constant pressure to gain approval from others regarding decisions and events, and enduring backlash on social media when things don’t go perfectly, or sometimes too perfectly.”
“ ”This past fall, Tara started a viral trend on TikTok by creating gift bags for opposing head coaches’ wives, and it gained traction week after week.
“My gifts were intentionally over the top, and each wife was incredibly grateful, with one even gifting me back from Quapaw’s coach’s wife. I think this small gesture can be a breath of fresh air for wives, as we often feel like we’re on the back burner in this demanding lifestyle,” Tara continued. “My husband and I have worked hard to build a supportive culture for coaches and their wives, hosting a clinic in Pawhuska each May. While the clinic focuses on football for the husbands, the wives have the opportunity to connect, make friends, and find support. This mission has been a passion of ours, and we’re excited to see how this event continues to grow in the future.”
Tara said the list of people to thank is long, but the support she receives from one truly stands out.
“I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in supporting me and my journey. A special thank you to the Pioneer Woman for sponsoring this and for continuously supporting our community. To my husband, thank you for always standing by me and encouraging me in everything I do. To my children and family, your love and support mean the world to me. I’m incredibly grateful for the amazing community of Pawhuska, whose generosity and spirit inspire me. Lastly, I want to thank the incredible community I’ve built on social media, especially on TikTok, for cheering me on and being a part of this adventure. I couldn’t do this without all of you,” said Tara.
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