Welcome back: Alto ISD’s newest athletic director is AHS 2000 grad

by Jo Anne Embleton news@thecherokeean.com

ALTO – Alto ISD has welcomed back one of its own, a 2000 AHS grad who now is at the helm of the district’s athletic program: Lance Gamble.

Gamble, who most recently served as defense coordinator for the Lufkin High School Panthers, inked a contract with the district on Friday, March 12, but officially will start his duties on March 22, after students and faculty return from Spring Break, according to a social media post on the district’s Facebook page.

Gamble was head coach and athletic director at Beckville, leading the team to the third round of playoffs his final year, prior to going to Lufkin.

He succeeds Ricky Meeks, who accepted a similar position at Center ISD earlier this year.

Gamble is the son of Lucky Gamble, who coached the Alto program from 1993 to 2000.