Randy Barger has been named the head girls basketball coach and girls coordinator for the Fairfield Lady Eagles this upcoming school year. Barger has served as the associate head coach for the girls basketball program for the past six years.
“My wife, Gloria, and I are excited about the opportunity to continue coaching in Fairfield,” Barger said. “The school district, the kids, parents, and community have been good to us and I hope I can fill the shoes of Coach Whitaker as Coordinator.”
Barger is replacing Sally Whitaker, who has been coaching for 20 years, the past 19 years at Fairfield High School. Whitaker has served as the head girls basketball coach and girls coordinator for the Lady Eagles for the past nine years.
“I am happy for Coach Barger. He has the experience and leadership that is needed to continue the success we have had as a program,” Whitaker said. “Coach Barger has been such a blessing to the program for the past six years. He has been a mentor to me and a friend. I truly enjoyed working with him.”
Whitaker noted that she tried really hard to make sure each program had the best chance to be successful.
“I am proud of what the program accomplished together over the past nine years,” Whitaker said. “The program is stronger than ever and I am looking forward to supporting the Lady Eagles for years to come.”
Whitaker said she plans to continue to teach, but wants to spend more time with her family. Her son, Brandt, will be a freshman at Fairfield High School this upcoming school year and will be involved in numerous extracurricular activities.
Whitaker and Barger have led the Lady Eagles basketball team to the Regional Championship the past six years, making an appearance at the State Tournament five of those six years. They brought home a state title in 2020, 2022, and 2025.
Barger has been coaching for 25 years. His first 19 years were at Mexia High School where he won the 3A state basketball title with the Lady Blackcats in 2013.
When asked about his goals for the Lady Eagles, Barger said, “The goal is to maintain our program’s success in all sports and to continue helping our kids develop as young ladies. It’s been great coaching with Coach Whitaker. We have enjoyed a good coaching relationship and have enjoyed success as well. Fairfield athletics will miss her very much. She took great pride in our kids and program and it will be hard to fill her position as coordinator.”
“Resilience and expectation goes hand and hand,” Barger said when asked about continuing the resiliency of the girls basketball program. “When you build expectations in your programs and kids understand it takes resilience to keep it going that makes it possible. Our kids have worked hard and we hope they will continue to work to achieve our goals.”
Barger noted that the community needs to know that the girls appreciate their continued support of the Lady Eagles and their program.
“The community helps us achieve our continued success and also helps us deal with disappointment,” Barger said. “Our Fairfield community has been great and our kids and coaches appreciate it very much.”
