Bob was hired by Hank Egbert in 1973 to teach in the Business Education Department and to serve as an assistant varsity coach to Virgil Stan. Bob started right from the beginning as a super enthusiastic coach and teacher. Bob has given 30 years of his life to the students and to Sahuaro High School. The key word, that best describes Bob, is enthusiasm. Bob is enthusiastic in his coaching, in his support and caring of students, in his administration and in his support of Sahuaro. At Sahuaro Bob taught computer science, business, free enterprise, economics, and physical education.
His coaching career has been extensive: assistant varsity football from 1973-1981; head JV football coach with 29 straight wins from 1981-1985; head varsity coach at Santa Rita with 70% wins from 1986-1994; head JV football coach at Sahuaro from 1995-1999; head JV basketball coach and assistant varsity coach with 82% wins from 1981-2001.
In 1999-2003, he was the athletic Director at Sahuaro High School. Currently Bob is the assistant Principal, Athletic Director, Head Football and Head Basketball Coach for St. Augustine Catholic High School, which will be his 31st year in education. In addition, he is serving as their athletic/activities consultant. Bob has served on St. Pius Catholic Church Finance Commission for 3 years. From 1996-2003, he was the Director of the Rodney Peete Football Camp, which served over 500 Tucson youngsters.
From 1998-2002, he was the Director of the Sahuaro Cougar Golf Classic. Bob has participated in numerous charitable events to raise funds for Sahuaro High School. He is affiliated with Sigma Chi Fraternity, Arizona Coaches Association, and a 25-year member of the National High School Coaches Association. Formerly he was associated with the Arizona Roadrunners, has been on the Board of Directors for Arizona Special Olympics, and Pi Kappa Psi, the Professional Marketing Fraternity. On May 12, 2003 Bob received a letter from the National Football League stating that Rodney Peete of the Carolina Panthers had nominated Bob for the NFL’s Teacher of the Year Award. Darin Fila (’83) wrote Bob thanking “Coach V” for the motivational talk he gave at their class reunion. These are just two examples of the way Bob has touched the lives of students.
In 1987, 1990, and 1993, Bob was Junior Achievement’s selection for “Economics Teacher of the Year”. In March 2002, Bob was awarded the Southern Arizona Coaches Association “Community Service Recipient Award” (given annually to individuals who contribute significantly to the development of young people throughout the Tucson community). Bob is a family man who married Gail some 33 years ago. They have four children who have all been outstanding students at Sahuaro. Michelle 27, who works in HealthCare in Berkley, CA; Shannon is a buyer for Intel Corporation in Palo Alto, CA; Marc is a Junior at West Point; and Aimee a Freshman at the University of Arizona. Bob says “Every day for 30 years I looked forward to going to work in good times and bad. It was terrific and not many people can say this about their place of employment. I am very lucky.”