When a freshman walks through the Gibbons doors on the very first day of school, likely one of the first faces that welcomes them is Mr. Nick Mangum. Whether he is greeting students in the science halls, teaching GFS (Gibbons Freshman Seminar) or checking up on how students are doing, Mangum is constantly in action helping others.
He seems to know every student’s name, but more impressively, helps every student have a sense of belonging for everyone who walks past him. His energy, dedication and passion for teaching not only makes him one of the most recognized faces on campus, but one of the most impactful.
“Mr. Mangum is very inspiring, he’s just an inspiration to everyone around him,” said Collin Dzingle-Erdei, a runner on the cross country team.
Once a Crusader, Always a Crusader
Mangum’s journey started long before coaching the track team or standing in front of the classroom. He graduated from Cardinal Gibbons in 1999 and attended all for four years. As a student, he had been on the cross country team and outdoor track team. During his student years he was a six-time state champion.
After graduating from N.C. State and initially planning on a military career, Mangum felt pulled back to the school that truly shaped who he is now.
“It felt like a debt, you know,” Mangum said. “I was a pain, I was immature when I was here. I was a handful and Cardinal Gibbons kind of set me on a different path and I don’t know what I would of done without it and I still feel that debt.”
That sense of purpose ultimately led him back to the Gibbons in 2008, after coaching at Davis Drive Middle School and Enloe High School. When then-principal Jason Curtis offered him a position to teach and coach back at where he began, it was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“I was very fortunate in my life to have been surrounded by people who, when I was at Gibbons, who cared and that took extra time out of their schedules to sometimes call my mom and tell her what I wasn’t doing or what I needed to be doing,” Mangum said.
More Than a Coach
Now entering his 17th year coaching at Cardinal Gibbons as a cross country and track head coach, Mangum’s legacy and impact is unmatched. He has led Gibbons to 19 state titles and coached two southeast regional team champions and was recently inducted into the North Carolina Track & Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame.
But what makes him stand out isn’t just the titles, but its the mindset he instill in his athletes.
“You don’t turn great off and on. You either are or you aren’t, you get to choose,” Mangum said. This was a phrase that was passed down to him by his own coach from his high school years.
That philosophy and spirit isn’t just for on the track, but goes beyond sports.
For Mangum, coaching and teaching are about growing students into their best selves and he shows this in his actions. Whether it’s meeting up with students, checking grades or even high fiving students in the hallways, it’s clear he’s in this for more than just the medals.
Lasting Legacy
Cardinal Gibbons isn’t just where Mangum works, it’s where his heart is.
Just like the mission statement of Gibbons, he taught his students about faith, service and leadership, he embodies that everyday. Mangum is a person that many students will remember long after they graduate.
