It was late summer of 1994, and Howard Breinig was preparing to retire his clipboard.
In his previous three decades (1963-1993) as a high school football coach at Sunnyside, Rincon and two stints at Sahuaro, Breinig just could not figure out how to snare a state championship, falling three times in the state finals.
Just months removed from turning in the papers to formally resign as the head coach at Sahuaro — effective at the end of the '94 season — Breinig rode the shoulders of star running back Omar Bacon (who went on to play for the University of Utah and made the practice squad of the NFL's New York Giants) all the way to his first and only title.
"It took forever and then some to get that championship," said Breinig, 65, now the junior varsity football coach at Sabino.
On Wednesday afternoon, Breinig was one of 12 of Southern Arizona's influential sports figures announced for induction into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame (PCSHF).
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"It's an honor," Breinig said. "There are a lot of people I really respect in this class."
With this year's group, the PCSHF includes 244 members.
Potential members are nominated in four categories: athletes, coaches, officials and contributors.
The Pima County Sports Hall of Fame museum, located downtown in the 6120 suite of La Placita Village at 110 S. Church St., is under renovation. PCSHF member and president John Gleeson promised the new digs will offer a much-improved experience for all visitors.
"People are going to really like what we're doing with the museum," Gleeson said.
Breinig was not the only former Sahuaro football coach to make the list.
Former Cougars coach Virgil Stan, who produced four future NFL players in his tenure at Sahuaro, was announced as a member of the 18th class for the PCSHF.
"It's amazing to think that, with all that talent, we didn't win a championship or two," chuckled Stan. "We really had some great players."
The 18th annual PCSHF Induction Banquet will take place Oct 21.
Howard Breinig: Captain of the UA football team in 1962 as an offensive lineman. Coached from 1963 to 1994 at Sunnyside, Sahuaro, Rincon and again at Sahuaro. Notched five Coach of the Year honors. Won the state football championship in 1994 and the wrestling title in 1972, both at Sahuaro.
Ray Desmond: Mortgage broker and founder of Nova Home Loans, donated thousands of dollars to Southern Arizona youth sports, Pima Community College athletics and the Arizona Icecats.
Jim Estrada: First American Indian to be hired for a teaching position in the state of Arizona. Served a long tenure — starting in the 1950s — as the baseball coach at Pueblo High School. Also a standout football official. Passed away in 2000.
Russ Gragg: All-state baseball player for Tucson High School state champions in 1950 and '51. Played baseball for the UA from 1952 to 1955, claiming second-team All-America honors in his final year. Played minor-league baseball in the Chicago Cubs organization.
Kathleen "Rocky" LaRose: Cleanup hitter and first baseman for the UA softball team in late 1970s. Current Senior Associate Director of Athletics at the UA, a position she has held for 12 years. Is the 40th female inductee.
Herbert "Red" Mann: Captain of the UA's "Blue Brigade" football team in 1937. Played professional football before becoming an Army Ranger during WWII. Passed away in 1971.
Jim Markert: Graduate of Rincon High School. Played college basketball for Washington University in St. Louis. After graduation, Markert became a local teacher and one of the state's best officials in football, baseball and basketball.
Dan Moore: Graduate of Sahuaro High School, played football and baseball at the UA in the 1970s. Moved on to become baseball coach at Santa Rita where the Eagles won the 3A state championship in 1986. Was the Star's Coach of the Year in 1982.
Mike Odum: All-state baseball player at Tucson High School. Selected in the seventh round of the 1972 MLB draft by the Astros but chose to go to Azusa Pacific University. Was 4A Coach of the Year at Cholla High School in 1994.
Jeff Scurran: Three-time state champion football coach at Sabino High School, where he coached from 1988 to 1999. Orchestrated the creation of the Pima Community College football program in 2000, posting a 26-17 record in four years, and winning the school's first-ever bowl game.
Virgil Stan: Coached at Sahuaro High School from 1969 to 1983 and was named the 1972 Tucson-area Coach of the Year. Officiated wrestling in high school and college for nearly 15 years.
Jerry Tolle: 1951 graduate of Tucson High School and an all-state member of the '51 Badgers state championship baseball team. Moved on to play for the UA from 1953 to '55. President of the Arizona State Bowling Association for 10 years.
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