A Change of Demeanor
A joyful smile, common to Brian McElroy’s appearance, is replaced with a face of fury as he makes is way to the cage for his first professional fight Nov. 5, 2022, at the Clearwater Casino in Lewiston, Idaho.
Brian McElroy walks by a photos of previous students that participated in Washington State University’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) on Nov. 3, 2022, at Clarkston High in Clarkston, Wash.
Brian McElroy, right, fist pumps student and cross country athlete Anthony Baker on Nov. 3, 2022, as students head to their next class at Clarkston High in Clarkston, Wash. McElroy is currently in his sixth year as the head track coach at Clarkston High.
Brian McElroy, left, works on his ground game with teammate and fighter Drake Randell on Nov. 1, 2022, at Arnett’s Martial Arts America in Lewiston, Idaho.
Brian McElroy, right, converses with Randi Brott, the financial literacy and college access coordinator at the University of Idaho, on Oct. 26, 2022, during an after school event at Clarkston High in Clarkston, Wash. The event, organized by McElroy, hosted representatives from local colleges, trade schools and military recruiters to provide education and career information for students approaching graduation.
Brian McElroy, left, works the mitts as Team Execution head coach and professional fighter Austin Arnett provides guidance Nov. 2, 2022, during a training session at Arnett’s gym in Lewiston, Idaho. “Fighting is very much a team sport,” Arnett said. “And I consider Brian to be one of the captains of this team.”
Brian McElroy gets his hands wrapped an hour before his first professional fight Nov. 5, 2022, at the Clearwater Casino in Lewiston, Idaho.
Brian McElroy, right, lines a counter with refreshments on Oct. 26, 2022, during an after school event providing college and career information for graduating students at Clarkston High in Clarkston, Wash.
A smile spreads across Brian McElroy’s face as he hands his keys to student Kayden Couch to grab supples from McElroy's car on Nov. 3, 2022, at Clarkston High in Clarkston, Wash.
Brian McElroy gets his hands wrapped an hour before his first professional fight Nov. 5, 2022, at the Clearwater Casino in Lewiston, Idaho.
Team Execution assistant coach Dave Pearson, right, dabs vaseline on Brian McElroy’s brow Nov. 5, 2022, moments before McElroy enters the cage at the Clearwater Casino in Lewiston, Idaho. Vaseline will protect a fighter’s face by decreasing the friction between the skin and the glove when a blow lands.
Brian McElroy, top, dishes out some hammer punches to Chris Ensley’s side during McElroy’s first professional mixed martial arts fight Nov. 5, 2022, at the Clearwater Casino in Lewiston, Idaho.
The referee raises the hand of a victorious Brian McElroy after his first round victory over Chris Ensley on Nov. 5, 2022, at the Clearwater Casino in Lewiston, Idaho. McElroy defeated Ensley in 1 minutes, 29 seconds by rear naked choke submission in the first round.
Central Washington University graduate and Tacoma, Wash., native Brian McElroy has been the head track coach at Clarkston High School (CHS) for nearly six years. He is also a guidance counselor at CHS and the local site manager for Washington State University’s GEAR UP initiative, a federally funded program that helps high school students prepare for college. Now McElroy can add the title of professional mixed martial artists to his resume after winning his first pro fight on Nov. 5, 2022, at the Clearwater Casino in Lewiston, Idaho.
Most people that know McElroy find it hard to believe that this compassionate, dedicated, respectful 30-year-old track coach and guidance counselor is a pro fighter, but when McElroy enters the cage the warm and welcoming smile commonly displayed on his face is replaced with focus and fury of a hardened warrior.
“It is quite confusing to see this unbelievably kind man flip a switch and be a beast in the ring,” Clarkston High Principal Doug LaMunyan said of his track coach. “Students flock to be around him as he treats everybody with such respect, kindness, and humor in which you feel better about yourself just being around him.”
McElroy is a part of Team Execution whose head coach is Austin “Golden Boy” Arnett, a Lewiston local and seasoned pro fighter that has competed in the UFC. McElroy meet Arnett through mutual friends a couple years ago and eventually started to train with Arnett’s Team Execution, quickly becoming a fixture of the Golden Boy’s fight squad.
“I consider Brian to be one of the captains of this team,” Arnett said. “The Bushido code, that honor code of the warrior, he represents that.”