(The Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame Committee and its newest hall of fame members pose for a photo Sunday. Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365.com)

The Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame welcomed its newest class Sunday, five coaches who each dedicated more than 20 years to impact Arizona’s high school sports landscape positively.

Each coach won a lot yet there was little talk about their titles during Sunday’s well-attended ceremony at the #335 Phoenix Elks Lodge. How their leadership impacted their players, communities and the relationships they formed were popular themes during the speeches that Todd Ford, Steven Schneider, Richard Gray, Robert Robinson and the wife of the late Thomas Hawkins, Merna, gave. 

Their communication skills, a trait every great coach often is equipped with, were on full display while the inductees recalled their coaching days. Gray had the audience laughing really hard as he retold countless coaching experiences, including meeting Sheriff Joe Arpaio when Arpaio worked with troubled youth at Canyon State Academy High, where Gray made a coaching stop.

Gray also made a stop at Northern Arizona University, where he was on the staff that also produced NFL coaches Bill Callahan, Brad Childress, Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg. 

“You might have missed out on your calling — communication,” co-master of ceremonies Marland Norton joked after Gray completed his lengthy but humorous speech.

Every newly elected hall of fame member was present except for Hawkins, who passed away in 2013

But Merna stepped in to give a heart-warming speech about how her husband’s football teams brought the Coolidge community closer during Hawkins’ 20 years at Coolidge High.

“They were Coolidge’s boys,” said Merna about how Hawkins’ boys were admired throughout Coolidge.

Every coach who was present took time out to also thank their spouse during their speeches.

Coaches often spend time away from their families while their spouses hold down the fort at home. The 32^nd AZHSAC Hall of Fame class also expressed its appreciation for the profession it picked.  

“It is an honor to be called a coach,” said former Mesa Mountain View track and field coach Robert Robinson. 

32nd AZHSAC Hall of Fame class

Todd Ford, wrestling

Ford was a head wrestling coach in Arizona from 1985-2006. During his distinguished career, he coached at Maricopa, Tempe, Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista High Schools. As a head coach he posted an impressive 65 percent win percentage, with 217 career dual match victories. His teams finished as the state runner-up in 2002 and won four region titles during his 21-year head coaching career. Ford was named Central Region Coach of the Year three times, All-Star assistant coach twice, 1997 USA Wrestling West Region Coach of the Year and has often been a featured speaker at Northern Arizona State University’s wrestling clinics. He has been very active in the coaching fraternity, serving in a multitude of positions, including president of the Arizona Wrestling Coaches Association, a member of the Arizona USA Wrestling Board of Directors and director of the Sunkist Kids International Wrestling Tournament. 

Richard Gray, football

Gray’s career as an assistant and head football coach spans 33 years at seven different Arizona high schools, including Shadow Mountain, Horizon, Gilbert, Chandler and the Arizona Boys Ranch. He won 60 percent of his games during his head coaching tenure. His teams have won the regional championship title four times, and in 2002 and 2003 his Arizona Boys Ranch teams finished 10-2 and 11-1, respectively, and as state runners-up. He was named State Coach of the Year in 1981 and 2002, Region Coach of the Year in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and Conference Coach of the Year in 1981 and 2002. Gray served as a football All-Star assistant coach to Hall of Fame member Gary Venturo in 2001 and 2005. He has been a lifetime member of the Arizona Coaches Association and retired from active coaching duties in 2010.

Thomas Hawkins, football

Thomas spent his entire 20-year football coaching career at Coolidge High School, including 18 years as head coach. His teams amassed 115 victories and only 50 losses (70 percent win percentage). He coached two teams that finished undefeated, two with only one loss each, two state champions, one state runner-up and three region champions. During his heralded coaching tenure, Thomas was named Conference Coach of the Year, Region Coach of the Year, and the National High School Athletic Coaches’ Association’s State and Region Eight Coach of the Year twice. He served as the football All-Star head coach in 1969 and was tireless in serving the coaching profession in numerous elected and appointed positions, including four years as a member of the Arizona Coaches Association Board of Directors.

Robert Robinson, track and field

After a distinguished 30-year career in Minnesota, Robinson served as head coach at Mountain View High School in Mesa for 22 years. At Mountain View, his teams won more than 90 percent of their meets, four state titles, were state runners-up five times and captured the regional title an amazing 17 times. He has been named National Coach of the Year twice and the National High School Athletic Coaches’ Association’s Region Eight Coach of the Year three times. He was honored as state Coach of the Year five times and Region Coach of the Year 17 times. He has served the profession in many capacities; as a Vice President and Board of Directors member for the NHSACA, as chairperson of the Arizona Interscholastic Association Track and Field Advisory Committee and as a featured speaker at numerous track and field coaching clinics. He continues as to coach after retiring from his teaching responsibilities.

Steven Schneider, boys golf

Schneider is in his 27th season as Snowflake High School’s golf coach. During his head coaching tenure, his teams have posted more than 200 match victories (75 win percentage). His teams have won the region title 11 times and the state championship or the state runner-up title an amazing 14 times. Steven coached the Arizona Boys Golf All-Star team in 1994, 1997 and 1999. He has been named East Region Coach of the Year nine times, State Coach of the Year four times and in the 1998 National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s Region Eight Coach of the Year. He has been director of the Boys State Golf Tournament twice, served on the All-Star Selection Committee numerous times and has conducted the East Region pre-season Rules Committee meeting for more than a decade. He continues his service to the coaching profession, serving as a rules interpreter/golf consultant to the AIA.