Longtime Pusch Ridge Christian Academy running coach Elmer Yazzie is set to retire. Sort of.

Yazzie has been the head cross country and track coach at Pusch Ridge since 2005 and an art teacher at the school for a couple of years before that. But he is heading home now, back to New Mexico, to teach art and coach with his daughter Autumn Newell at the Rehoboth Christian School just outside of Gallup.

Yazzie had a very successful coaching career at Rehoboth with seven state championships and seven runner-up finishes in the 19 years he was there. He moved to Tucson and his Pusch Ridge girl's cross country team collected three straight runner-up finishes 2011 to 2013 while his boy's squad took second in 2012 and third in 2013.  His boy's track team took second in 2014 while the girl's won back-to-back state championships in 2012 and 2013.

One of his standouts to pace the team during that incredible run at Pusch Ridge was seven-time state champion Sarah Macdonald. Macdonald is now a junior at Seattle Pacific

"Coach Yazzie has made an immeasurable impact as a mentor, coach, teacher and friend to all," Macdonald said while traveling with her team.

"Finding unique ways to draw out the distinct gifts of every athlete, he was flexible and creative but also strong and deliberate. He personally embodies what it means to work wholeheartedly to God's glory. Coach Yazzie instilled in me and all the teams he has worked with through the years, a competitive spirit, tireless work ethic and most importantly, a love for running."

"Being here at Pusch Ridge was a wonderful journey," Yazzie said in his usual calm and fatherly voice. "I would not trade it in for anything. I am touched by how we have joined forces together."

As Macdonald points out, Yazzie gets the most out of his runners in a very spiritual way befitting his nature and his beliefs.

"I Like to dig beyond the normal levels and pull out the best of them," he explained. "Not in a mean way but I try to get them to see how strong their mind and heart is and how committed they are. Get them to dig deep."

An accomplished artist, Yazzie took some time away from the classroom in New Mexico until his four children told him it was time for him to share his skills with kids again.

"When they told me it was time to back into the classroom I told them I would pray on it," Yazzie said. "I had an opportunity in Montana and a couple more in New Mexico but those doors closed and God opened one up here in Tucson."

Yazzie came with his family and they camped out but he did not like what he saw initially but he grew to love what the desert had to offer.

"I thought it was ugly here," he said. "But I came to really enjoy the beauty of this place. I knew I would get to know the people but I am glad I got to know the land. I fell in love with it from camping and painting.

Now 62, Yazzie will return to Rehoboth to teach art with his daughter during the day and to be her assistant coach on the school's cross country team. He wants to make it clear that she will be the head coach.

"I told her she is the head coach. It is her team," he added. "She told me I was so much better than her but I will be there to help her."

Yazzie has four kids and five grandchildren with another one on the way. He also has quite a few athletes who he has helped compete at the next level and many more who he has made dig deep within themselves to be productive adults beyond the hills and valleys of a cross country race.