Legends at the Ballpark event coming

Join the Coaching Legends at Petco Park on Saturday, April 30 for Legends at the Ballpark!

Join the Legends at Petco Park on April 30! Take in some great high school baseball games featuring local teams and catch up with your fellow Legends.

Legends on hand will get a t-shirt and a tour of the ballpark. The tour will begin at 1 p.m.

More information will be included in the upcoming Coaching Legends Newsletter, which will be e-mailed to Legends on April 11. Legends can also contact committee member Gary Chapman directly or e-mail sdlegends@yahoo.com.

Hiring of Haines changed football, says NCT

As part of the annual kickoff of the high school football season, the North County Times is one of many newspapers across the country that produces a preview section.

In the past, it has featured promiently a team, a coach or a handful of players. This season, though, is all about a moment.

Said the NCT: “The hiring of (late Coaching Legend Dick) Haines is the greatest moment in North County prep football history as selected by the prep staff of the North County Times.”

Haines was a member of the inaugural Coaching Legends Class of 1999.

The story offers a fun historical perspective on high school football in the North County. To read the complete article, click here.

Hall’s Bob Breitbard passes away

Bob Breitbard, the founder of the San Diego Hall of Champions sports museum, passed away at the age of 91 on May 17.

Mr. B was involved in San Diego’s local sports scene for more than 50 years as a player, coach, team owner, builder and benefactor of institutions and organizations that helped put San Diego on the map as a professional sports town. At the same time, he was instrumental in preserving the city’s rich sports history and honoring its great sportsmen and women from the high school to professional levels.

A huge part of the Coaching Legends family, the Hoover High and San Diego State grad was among the first honored with the Meritorious Service Award when it was added in 2003. This year, the award’s name will change to the Bob Breitbard Meritorious Achievement Award, honoring Mr. B’s commitment to the San Diego High School Coaching Legends and the city’s high school sports community.

Latest newsletter available now!

The spring edition of the San Diego High School Coaching Legends newsletter is in the mail, but Legends can get a sneak peek of the latest news and information by clicking here.

The newsletter features a photo collage from the November Legends Banquet, as well as information about the upcoming Legends on the Bay event.

The committee also pays its respects to former USDHS golf coach David A. Thoennes, who passed away recently and is greatly missed by the San Diego coaching community. Thoennes was part of the 2009 Legends class.

Did you miss a newsletter? The complete archive is available online by clicking here.

Long career of Draz celebrated

Seventy-nine years young, Dick Draz’s name is synonymous with San Diego aquatics. The newly elected president of the San Diego Water Polo Officials Association, Draz is featured in a recent profile by the North County Times‘ Terry Monahan.

To view the complete profile, click here.

Note: Draz is a longtime member of the San Diego Coaching Legends Selection Committee.

Legends Banquet a success!

A packed house at the Scottish Rite Center looked on as the 2009 class of San Diego High School Coaching Legends was inducted on Thurs., November 12.

The class of 12 successfully entertained attendees with their speeches, from the disbelief of Jim Knox to the insightful advice of Anne Rosser.

The night also included a tribute to Bruce Binkowski, again the master of ceremonies and a longtime friend of the San Diego Hall of Champions.

To view photos from the event, click here. The event program is also available for download. To view it, click here.