Goodyear head coach, former political candidate Travis Angry has died

By Madeline Ackley Salazar
mackley@newszap.com|
Twitter: @Mkayackley

West Valley coach and former political candidate Travis Angry died in the evening hours of Feb. 14 at age 47. 

Angry was the founder of Estrella Wolves Track Club in Goodyear, where he worked as head coach. 

He also was the head coach of track and field and cross country at Raymond S. Kellis High School in Glendale. 

Angry was a U.S. Navy veteran and twice ran for state office. In 2020, he ran for a seat in the Arizona State Senate against Democrat Lisa Otondo. He lost by about 9,000 votes. 

He also sought election to Arizona’s 8th Congressional District in the 2018 special election, but suspended his campaign in December 2017.

Angry was a Christian and Republican and referred to himself as a “Black Conservative.”

Born in Albany, Georgia, to educator parents, Angry received his bachelor's and master’s degrees from the University of Phoenix in 2011 and 2020, respectively.  

His cause of death has not been announced through any official channels, but loved ones posted publically on social media that he died of cancer. 

Angry stated he previously survived cancer on three separate occasions, according to biographical information submitted to Ballotpedia, an online political encyclopedia

Angry was the founder of a Goodyear-based youth organization called the Youth Change Project. In 2013, Angry published a memoir and self-help book titled Change: If I Can, You Can. 

According to Angry’s website, the book was to be adapted into a movie directed by David Nixon. The film’s IMDb page states the movie is in the pre-production phase. 

Angry is survived by his daughter Tatiyana, and his son DeVante. 

Madeline Ackley Salazar can be reached at mackley@iniusa.org or found on Twitter @Mkayackley.