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Dave King, Athletic Director
Hometown: Yuma, AZ
High School: Howell High School
Years in Position: 2
Other sports: Wrestling, football, track and softball.
Awards/Accolades: Wrestling - D2,Section Champions (2012, 2013, 2017,2018), D2 State Runners-up (2012, 2013), PTOC Coaches Sportsmanship Award Winner (2015, 2016)
Why Coaching: "I know that high school athletics provided me the skills and the motivation to perform at my best as a student and I hope to enable our YUHSD students to have the same support and life lessons."
Athletics Contact Form / (928) 502-5368
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Selma Dillon, Athletics Secretary
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Kiley Mackell, Athletic Trainer
Hometown: Houston, TX
High School: Temescal Canyon High School
Years in Position: 2
Why Athletics: "I took my first sports medicine class and fell in love. I look forward to helping Kofa students and student athletes discover the possibilities and opportunities in the sports medicine profession."
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Richy Leon, Baseball
Hometown: San Luis, AZ
High School: Kofa High School
Years in Position: 17
Other Sports: Football
Awards/Accolades: Region champions (4), State tournament qualifier (6), State tournament quarterfinalist teams (2), 2009 Yuma-area Coach of the Year
Why Coaching: "Coaches and teachers that I had through out my careers paved the path for me to play as long as I could and obtain my college degree as a first generation Mexican-American. I wanted to pay it forward and wanted to remain close to the game I love that enabled me to receive and education, travel and reach many personal goals."
Fun Fact: Attended Arizona State University on a baseball scholarship, played for a National Title in 1998 (National Runner-up), drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 1998, played 5 years of professional baseball including the former Yuma Bullfrogs.
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Todd Birney, JROTC
Hometown: Carrollton, OH
High School: Carrollton High School
Years in Position: 4
Awards/Accolades: Rifle Team, PT Team
Why Coaching: "The ability to encourage and help change a kid's life to benefit them for the future."
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Colen Laarman, JROTC
Hometown: McBain, MI
High School: McBain High School
Years in Position: 6
Other Areas: JRTOC Marine Corps Drill Team and Color Guard
Awards/Accolades: 2017 Finished 7th in the nation at Marine Corps Nationals competition out of 262 teams. 2018 Finished 3rd at West Coast Drill Nationals, 2019 Finished 14th in the nation at Marine Corps Nationals competition
Why Coaching: "A love for Drill competitions, discipline and teamwork instilled."
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Tammy Pixley, Softball
Hometown: Ripley, NY
High School: Ripley Central High School
Years in Position: 3
Other Sports: Soccer, Basketball and Golf
Why Coaching: "To make a positive impact on young players and pass along my love for athletics."
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Santos Rangel Jr., Tennis (Boys)
Hometown: Yuma, AZ
High School: Kofa High School
Years in Position: 5
Awards/Accolades: 2017-18 Sub-section Champions
Why Coaching: "For love of the game."
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Allen Grimes, Tennis (Girls)
Hometown: Akron, OH
High School: Homeschooled
Years in Position: 5
Other Sports: Football and track
Awards/Accolades: USTA Southern Arizona High School Tennis Coach of the Year (2016), Head Coach 1997 Kenmore Cardinals youth football champions.
Why Coaching: "Every weekend when I was growing up, my two uncles took my brother and I to practice football, baseball and track. They did this despite having their own families and problems. I didn't fully appreciate the amount of time they spent with us until I reached adulthood. I vowed to always give back to the community and to share my knowledge with area youth. It is my belief that interscholastic sports are an important part of the academic curriculum. As coaches, it is our responsibility to teach athletes the value of hard work, self discipline and persistence. Therefore, it is important to teach proper technique, or risk sacrificing long term development in favor of short term success. When they leave us, our athletes should have sufficient knowledge to pass on to others. We can measure our success by the number of our students who go on to become the coaches and teachers of the future."
Fun Fact: Author and retired FBI agent. Coach Grimes was certified as a tennis professional in 2011 by the Pro Tennis Registry.
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Ben Franz, Track
Hometown: Rapid City, SD
High School: Central High School
Previous Years Coaching: 11
Other Sports: Football, Golf
Awards/Accolades: Nominated for Yuma Sun Coach of the Year (2016-17)
Why Coaching: "A love of sports and how they teach you so many real life lessons and skills. Sports are so much more than just x's and o's and wins and losses. They are a training ground for work ethic and good character. I had some amazing coaches in my youth that instilled these values in me and I desire to pass them on to the next generation. Also, it's REALLY FUN!"
Fun Fact: Earned Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education and Coaching from Chadron State College and currently working on Masters Degree in Sports Management
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