Jim Crawford was a rare commodity 30 to 40 years ago in Arizona, a true native.  Jim was born in Bisbee, raised in Pomerene, graduated at Benson, and attended Eastern Arizona College on a track scholarship.  Jim continued as a student and hurdler at Arizona State University where he earned his Bachelor's degree.  He finished his education with an M.Ed at Northern Arizona University.  Coach Crawford began his teaching and coaching career at Ft. Thomas.  Soon after, he left for St.

Eric Kibler has been a symbol of excellence in the sport of baseball for Horizon High School for many years.  Coach Kibler's Huskies were the State Champions six times (1995, 96, 2005, 07,08, 2010).  The Huskies were also the State Runners-Up 3 times (2003, 06, and 09).  Coach Kibler is currently a member of the USA Baseball Coaching Staff in the World Tournament.  Eric was selected as the National High School Athletic Association's Coach of the Year in 2013.  The baseball field at Horizon now bears the Kibler name.

Gil Trejo was a charter member of the Arizona Coaches Hall of Fame.  Gil graduated from Phoenix Union High School and Arizona State University.  Coach Trejo played pro baseball and ended his career in the New York Yankees organization.  Coach Trejo's Maryvale Panthers won him State Titles in 1968 and 1975.  His Panthers were the State Runners-Up in 1980 and 1983. The Panthers finished with a record of 323-146 with 11 league championships during that span.   Coach Trejo's Camelback Spartans were State Runners-Up twenty years before in 1962.  In 1973 Gil was selected the District 6 "Coach of

Coach Bob Ruman worked in the Phoenix Union District beginning in 1947.  Ruman coached football and baseball at Phoenix Union, Camelback and Central High Schools.  His Central Bobcats were the 5A State Champions in 1964. His teams also won 4 division championships. Ruman's peers selected him as the Phoenix Division Coach of the Year in 1967 and 1971.  Coach Ruman was a 3 sport letterman at the University of Arizona in the early 1940's.  He was a third-team All-American in football, second team All-Border Conference in Basketball, and led the Wildcat baseball team in hitting with a .386 batt

An Arizona product all the way, Hal Eustice was a baseball icon in Southern Arizona for many years.  Coach Eustice graduated from Amphi in Tucson, U of A, minor league baseball for 3 years, and completed a long career with boys and baseball at San Manuel and Tucson Sahuaro.  Hal's Miners at San Manuel won the State Title in 1963, and his Sahuaro Cougars won 3 more State Titles and 2 Runners-Up.  Coach Eustice's teams won 436 games during that time span.  In addition to the Coaches Hall of Fame, Coach Eustice was a member of the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame, and was named his respective a

Coach Skip Schifino was a charter member of the Arizona High School Coaches Hall of Fame.  Coach Schifino devoted 30 years of his life to  coaching baseball.  His Hayden Lobos were the State Runners-Up in 1955 and his Scottsdale Arcadia Titans were the State Runners-Up in 1961. One of Schifino's Hayden baseball teams was a State Champion.  Skip's overall coaching career record was 326-235-5 at both schools combined.  Coach Schifino was an avid golfer.  He passed away in the Phoenix area in 2006.

Coach Bob Everett was an Arizona High school coach for more than 25 years.  His teams won 7 State Baseball Championship titles at 3 different levels from 2A to 5A.  He also has 3 Runners-Up during that span.  Coach Everett's 1991 Gilbert Tigers captured the 5A State crown.  In addition to 7 titles, Everett's teams were State Runners-Up 3 additional times.  Coach won his first title in 1966 and his last title in 1991.  Coach Everett was the ACA All Star Baseball Coach in 1974 and 1980.  Everett was honored as the Arizona Baseball Coach of the Year in 1983 and was the Arizona Republic's Male

Coach Coppinger was a charter member of the Arizona Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1984.  Coach Coppinger let the Scottdale Coronado Dons through over 20 seasons of baseball in the 60's thru the 80's.  Coach Roy's teams won state titles in 1966, 69, and 1979.  His teams also had 3 runners-up in 1974, 1978, and 1982.  Roy was a home grown product, a Tolleson athlete, on to ASU, served in the Air Force, and then a stellar coaching career.  Roy was selected the National Baseball Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association in 1990.  Ten years later Roy was in

After playing baseball at Arizona State University and graduating from Northern Arizona University Art Griiffith began a long and storied tenure as the head baseball coach at Winslow High School.   He is working on his 51st consecutive year as the head baseball coach and was an assistant one year prior.  Artie  was the Arizona state- runner-up in his first season.  At last count, Coach Griffith's teams had won over 750 games and lost less than 460 games.  The Bulldogs, however, have been in the playoffs almost every one of those 50 seasons with 22 region titles, 8 quarter finals, and 6 semi

Coach Wayne DesCombs led the Owls of Agua Fria through 3 decades of baseball.  Wayne's boys won the State Title in 1974 and 1983.  McComb's teams were State Runners-up in 1972 and 1992.  Coach McCombs was instrumental in many of the ACA Baseball All-Star games as a coach and as a liaison officer.  Coach was omnipresent as a director/worker of many of the baseball state playoffs in recent years.  Wayne passed away in 2014 and will be deeply missed.  The baseball complex at Agua Fria High School bears the DesCombes name.