Virg Stan was the first head football coach at Sahuaro High School beginning in 1968 and continuing through 1983. He was considered the “Founding Father” of Sahuaro’ s football program. Virg was also a History teacher at Sahuaro and was as innovative in the classroom as he was on the field.
On the field he quickly built the Cougars into a powerhouse. In his first year of leadership, he had no seniors and an overabundance of sophomore players. He built the football program from a small school level “newbie” program into one of the most feared and dynamic large school football programs in the state. In 1972, he was named Tucson’s Coach of the Year, the year in which Sahuaro won the AAA South Division and advanced to the state semifinals. He again was acknowledged for his coaching achievements with Coach of the Year honors in 1975 and 1980.
He became legendary for his innovations and his love of “trickery” to include his introduction of the “Black” offensive set which incorporated a set of five wide receivers and an empty backfield. This strategy was well ahead of its time and had never before been seen in Arizona until introduced by Coach Stan and his Sahuaro staff and players.
Before leaving the coaching post in 1983, he produced countless college players, 15 All-State players, two All-American players, and four players who reached the NFL. Virg is a current member of the Western State College Hall of Fame in Gunnison, CO., and the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame in Tucson, AZ.