Welcome Message

The structure of this web site is to honor those individuals that have devoted their lives to serving Arizona's youth with leadership, excellence, and success.  The men and women inducted into the Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame are the epitome of their profession and are being honored by their peers.  As of this writing 220 great coaches/educators have been inducted into this place of honor.  The Hall of Fame inductions began in 1984 with 32 charter members.  Usually a group of 5 new worthy coaches are added annually after a preceding member and/or the Executive Board induction committee nominates and then selects the candidates on the basis of their tenure, merit, and other exemplary characteristics.  We hope you enjoy moving through this history of excellence in Arizona High School Athletics.  You are navigating through a membership of coaches that have all been a coach for 20 years in the same sport, more than one sport, had unparalleled success, and/or have served their respective coaches' associations in various volunteer capacities.  Enjoy this trip down memory lane. There is a handsome public display of all 220 coaches in the Gila River Arena in Glendale just inside Gate 7. 

Hall of Fame

Henry Lennox is a charter member of the Arizona Coaches Association Hall of Fame.  Coach Lennox led the Antelopes of Seligman in 3 major sports during his career, football, baseball, and track.  Coach Lennox was at Seligman from 1948 to 1963 and his boys were 164-3 during that span.  The...Read more

Dennis Pirch was a long time symbol of excellence in the 3A level wrestling programs of Arizona.  Coach Pirch was the head wrestling coach at Payson high school from the early 1980's to the early 2000's.  During that span Coach Pirch's Longhorns were the Arizona 3A State Wrestling Champions 7...Read more

Danny Reid retired in 1996 after serving as head track coach at Payson High School for 13 years and Mayer High School for 5 years.  He was the assistant coach 4 years prior.  He recorded 68 wins with a winning percentage of 67%.  Coach Reid's thin clads won 4 State Class 3A State Titles, 3 State...Read more

Mike Dyer is another of our coaches with "native" attached to his life.  Mike was raised in Arizona and graduated from Ray High School where he lettered in all 4 of the major sports (1960-64).  Mike received his Bachelor's degree from Arizona State University and his Master's from the University...Read more

Sister Lynn Winsor began her career back in the 1970's at Xavier College Prep School for Girls in Phoenix.  She used to coach Basketball, Softball, and Golf.  She decided to concentrate on Golf and set a national record for State Titles with 28.  Her Gators are the bar by which most other girls...Read more

Coach Pat Farrell was a dynamic and intuitive head football coach at St. Mary's High School in the 1980's and 90's.  His Knights were the State Champions in 1984, '85, '91, and 1995.  The 1994 Knights were the State Runners-Up to Doug Shaffer's Scottsdale Horizon Huskies.  Coach Farrell was...Read more

Bill Mitton was a long time successful head football coach at Trevor Browne High School in the West Valley.  His early 1980's Bruins were a State 5A power house.  Mitton's 1980 and 82 teams were the State Runners-Up.  The 1981 Bruins were the 5A State Football Champions shutting out Tucson...Read more

Coach Jerry Lee led the Benson Bobcats to a whopping 11 small school State 2A Track Championships.  Coach Lee's teams were #1 in 1964, '66', '73, '77, '78, '79, '80, '85, '86, '87, and 1988.  Coach Lee is in an elite class of coaches with more than 10 titles.Read more

Coach Darwin Slade was born, lived, and passed away (2009) in Eagar Arizona.  Coach Slade served as a radio operator for the U.S. Navy in WWII.  He graduated from Arizona State University in 1951.  Darwin Slade had short terms with Sunnyslope and McNary, but the major portion of his career of 50...Read more

Coach Don Kloestreich was the head wrestling coach at Tucson Sunnyside High School back the late 1970's and 1980's.  Coach K's Blue Devils were the symbol of dominance, dynasty, and consistency during that span.  His boys won their first 5A wrestling title in 1979.  After a runner-up finish in...Read more

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