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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

Jerry Conner has led his teams to over 500 wins in boy's basketball during his career.  Shadow Mountain High School has named its gym after him.  Conner opened the program at Shadow Mountain in 1974.  The Matadors handed him the 1996 4A State Basketball title with High School All-American Mike...Read more

Nancy Funari was another outstanding athlete, and then coach.  Funari was a player on 3 State Championship teams in high school.  Coach Funari started the softball program at Carl Hayden High School in 1975 and continued until 2000.  Coach Funari's Lady Falcons were the 5A State Softball...Read more

Ron Davini has had an extraordinary career in baseball as a player and a coach.  Ron played his high school baseball in Anaheim, CA.  He went to Arizona State University, and, as a Sun Devil led his team to the NCAA baseball National Championship in 1967.  Davini was selected as the "Most...Read more

Ted Blake had some very good baseball teams at Greenway High School in the Glendale District.  Greenway's Demons won the 1981 and 1991 5A State Baseball Championships.  Two years later, in Class 4A, the Demons went 32-2 and won the State Championship game 20-0 over Flowing Wells.  Coach Blake...Read more

Larry Hughes coached many years at Tempe Corona Del Sol in the girls basketball program and the football program.  Coach Hughes Lady Aztecs won the Class 5A State Basketball Championship in 1981, 1993, 1994, and 2001.  His girls were also the State Runners-Up in 2002.  Hughes' football team won...Read more

Steve Hudgens has spent his life in and around education and coaching in the rural areas of Arizona.  Coach Hudgens was the head basketball coach at Morenci and later in Clifton.  Coach Hudgens Morenci teams were the 2A State Champions in 1973 and 1975.  Morenci was also a Runner-Up in 1970.   ...Read more

C.A. "Mont" Griffiths led the Class 1A Fredonia Lynx to State Football Titles in 3 different decades.  Coach Griffiths coached over 30 years in this remote Arizona town just across the border from Kanab, Utah.   The Lynx were the best 1A football team in the state in 1967, 68, 71, 91, and 1995...Read more

Argie Rhymes is one of the few Arizona prep basketball coaches with 600+ victories Only 4 coaches have reached that total (Sam Duane, Gary Ernst, and Dick McConnell--all Hall of Famers) are the others.  Argie was the head coach at Phoenix Union until they closed their doors in 1982.  He moved...Read more

Tom Wheatley was an outstanding high school football coach in the West Valley area of Phoenix for 20 years.  Coach Wheatley was well known for his work ethic and attention to detail.  His assistant coaches would often be asleep on his couch watching weekend film.  All the hard work paid off. ...Read more

Barbara Stauffer was one of the pioneers in small school girls athletics back in the early years following Title IX.  Coach Stauffer was one of the best small school volleyball coaches in Arizona in the 1970's and 1980's.  She began her career in Duncan where her Lady Wildkats were the 2A Class...Read more

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