Reeling UCLA will head into the Pac-12 season with a new coach.
Several websites cited unnamed sources late Sunday night saying UCLA is firing coach Steve Alford after the Bruins lost a fourth straight game Saturday, at home to Liberty.
Bilo Rated Sports appeared to first cite a source saying a buyout had been negotiated, while Bruin Report Online said negotiations went on throughout Sunday before an agreement was reached Sunday evening.
Bruins Nation said Alford wasΒ due about $4.5 million if he was fired now or in the spring, though UCLA will have to find and pay for an interim head coach.
The move has obvious significance for Arizona, which competes directly with UCLA on the recruiting trail as well as in the Pac-12. The Bruins have landed two former UA commits in recent seasons, T.J. Leaf and Shareef O'Neal, while also landing other UA targets such Jaylen Hands, David Singleton and Jonah Bolden.
UCLA was picked to finish second in the Pac-12, behind Oregon and ahead of Washington and Arizona. The Bruins are 7-6 entering conference play, starting Thursday at home against Stanford.
Alford was 124-63 over five-plus seasons with the Bruins.Β
Read Greg Hansen's top 100 sports figures here:
Greg Hansen: Southern Arizona's Top 100 Sports Figures of 2018
100. Adin Hill
Updated
Arizona Coyotes goalie Adin Hill makes a save in the third period against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. Arizona beat Minnesota 4-3.
As the Tucson Roadrunners won the Pacific Division, Hill, a goalie, was ranked No. 5 in the American Hockey League goalie statistics, and has shuttled between Tucson and the NHLβs Arizona Coyotes this season.
99. Zak Mohamed and Sam Lossou
Updated
Rincon boys soccer coach Roxanne Taylor exchanges phone info with forward Sam Lossou after the Rangers notched a 1-0 home win, Taylorβs 401st, against Desert View on Tuesday.
Rinconβs dominating soccer twosome combined to score 35 goals in a 13-4-2 season, and this year had 22 goals combined after a 10-2 start.
98. Breezy Hayward and Kaitlyn Anderson
Updated
Cienega's Kaitlyn Anderson drops a sacrifice bunt to move a runner to third base during second inning action against Mountain View in round 2 of the Class 5A state softball playoffs at Cienega High School in Vail, AZ. on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. Photo by Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star.
As Cienega High School rolled to another state softball championship, Hayward, a freshman with 54 RBI and a .513 batting average, and Anderson, a senior with a .467 batting average and 11 home runs, led the way.
97. Devyn Cross
Updated
Devyn Cross says that during the Wildcatsβ NCAA Tournament loss to Missouri, βI could have personally been more engaged rather than stuck in my head the whole time.β
In her junior year at Arizona, theΒ middle blockerΒ was selected to the AVCA All-AmericaΒ honorable mention team.
96. Addison Mort
Updated
As The Gregory School rolled to the state boys basketball championship, going 27-4 in Class 1A, Mort averaged 26 points and eight rebounds a game.
95. Alex Lopez and Jordan Lopez
Updated
βThey definitely work really, really well together,β Walden Grove coach Corey Noble says of Alex, left, and Jordan Lopez.
The Walden Grove High School twins combined for 4,509 yards from scrimmage in an 8-3 season; Alex, the quarterback, passed for 2,655 yards andΒ 29 touchdowns and rushed for 624 more. Jordan, a junior receiver, caught 54 passes for 1,230 yards and 12 touchdowns.
94. Kalista Kakou
Updated
Salpointe Catholic's Kalista Kakou, left, and Jacuelina Valenzuela (3) celebrate the Lancers' 3-0 voctory over Flagstaff in the girl's 4A state soccer championship game on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, in Gilbert, Ariz.
One of the stateβs leading high school soccer players, Kakou helped Salpointe win the 2018 Class 4A state championship and then signed to play collegiately at Eastern Washington.
93. Cole Altherr
Updated
Catalina Foothills pitcher Cole Altherr delivers a pitch against St. Mary's during the third inning of their State 4A Championship semifinal baseball game at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz.
Altherr was a top two-way player for Catalina Foothills High School's baseball team, hitting .348 with 15 extra-base hits and going 5-1 as a pitcher.
92. Nils Roth
Updated
Nils Roth
Pima Collegeβs freshman goalkeeper led the NJCAA in goals-against average as the Aztecs won the menβs soccer national title.
91. Kylee Martin
Updated
Kylee Martin
Pima Collegeβs standout soccer player, a Sahuaro High School grad,Β was a first-team All-ACCAC selection.
90. Matt Grevers
Updated
United States' Matt Grevers, Caeleb Remel Dressel and Lilly King, from left, celebrate after winning the gold medal in the mixed medley relay during the swimming competitions of the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, July 26, 2017.
The four-time Olympic swimming gold medalist, a volunteer coach on the UA swimming staff, finished second in the 100 backstroke at the USA finals.
89. Carlie Scupin
Updated
In her first two seasons at Tucson High, Scupin, a first baseman, has hit 24 home runs; her sophomore softball season was her best, producing a .619 batting average.
88. Mackenzie McRee
Updated
Mackenzie McRee grew up playing golf and watching the Masters with her dad, Jim McRee.
Not only did the freshman golfer from Salpointe Catholic qualify to compete in the Drive, Chip and Putt competition on the week of the Masters, she won the state Division II girls golf title.
87. Rashaad Henderson
Updated
Flowing Wells' Rashaad Henderson (23) manages to out run Mountain View's Branden Devoy (8) in the third quarter of their football game at Flowing Wells High School, Friday, October 26, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
Flowing Wellsβ senior running back gained 1,366 yards, scored 23 touchdowns and made 43 tackles for Mark Brunenkantβs 8-3 Caballeros.
86. Abram Carrasco
Updated
Abram Carrasco, right, has already reached the 1,000-point mark.
The Cholla High School grad averaged 16.6 points per game on Pima Collegeβs national basketball runnerup team, and is now leading the team with a 20.1 points-per-game average this season.
85. Greg Wenneborg and Chad Harrison
Updated
Chad Harrison, left, is Pima College's head coach.Β
Β Pima Collegeβs veteran track and cross country coaches produced five NJCAA All-Americans at the national finals: 800 meter runner Collin Dylla, pole vaulter Tony Chavez, high jumper Cameron Crandall, long jumper Anahiramar Lopez and high jumper Megan Schiffmacher.
84. Majok Deng
Updated
Salpointe Catholic's Majok Deng, left, drives to the basket past Buckeye Union's Otis Frazier during the second half of the boy's 4A state semi-final basketball game on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, in Phoenix, Ariz.
Salpointe Catholicβs senior basketball standout led the Lancers to the state championship game as a junior. Now a senior committed to Pepperdine, Deng averaged 17.9 points per game in his first 11 games.Β
83. Yu-Sang Hou
Updated
Arizona's Yu-Sang Hou watches her shot from the first tee during the final round of the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, May 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Arizonaβs sophomore golfer, a vital part of the NCAA championship, was the Pac-12βs November golfer of the month, and finished in the top 20 of six tournaments.
82. Cesar Salazar
Updated
Arizona catcher Cesar Salazar (12) cuts off the throw home as Oregon State outfielder Jack Anderson (29) scores during the sixth inning of the University of Arizona Wildcats vs. No. 5 Oregon State University Beavers college baseball game on April 6, 2018, at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Ariz.
As a junior catcher at Arizona, the Sahuaro High School grad was an All-Pac-12 first-team catcher, hitting .339.Β
81. Abdi Abdirahman
Updated
Abdi Abdirahman, of Tucson, took home bronze in the 2016 New York City Marathon and was the first American to finish the race.
Abdirahman, who turns 42 on New Year's Day, was 15th in the Boston Marathon and fifth in the Doha Half-Marathon.
80. Mark Chandler
Updated
Mark Chandler ran afoul of TUSD and AIA investigators while at Sahuaro. He stepped down as Sabinoβs coach in April.
One of the top prep baseball coaches in Tucson history, Chandler produced his first state championship, directing Sabino High School to a 28-4 record and the Class 3A state title.
79. Amy Rocha
Updated
First-year coach Amy Baray-Rocha has Salpointe Catholic's softball team two wins from the Division II state championship game after the Lancers beat Canyon del Oro 12-4 in 2015.Β
Salpointeβs softball coach guided the Lancers to the state championship, 32-4 overall, and has won 105 games in four seasons on the job.
Β
78. Felecity Willis
Updated
Felecity Willis, shown at McKale in β99, officiates Division I womenβs games for the WCC, Big Sky, WAC and Mountain West.
The former UA softball and basketball two-sport athlete has become one of the Westβs leading womenβs basketball referees, working her sixth season in the Mountain West, Big Sky, WCC and WAC conferences.
77. Terrell Hayward
Updated
Cienega's Terrell Hayward (7) finds room in the red zone during the second quarter in the Bobcats' first-round playoff win versus Marana.Β
Cienega High School's versatile football standout rushed for 636 yards, caught passes for 763 yards, made 32 tackles and scored 17 touchdowns.
76. Matt Bushman
Updated
BYU tight end Matt Bushman, a Tucson native and Sabino alum, yells after hauling in a 24-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter of the Cougarsβ 28-23 win over Arizona on Sept. 1, 2018, at Arizona Stadium.
Not only did the former Sabino High School tight end start as a BYU sophomore, he has now caught 74 passes for 979 yards in two years for the Cougars, including a game-changing touchdown in a victory over Arizona.
Β
75. Justin Wright
Updated
Arizona'sΒ Justin Wright. Photo by Stan Liu / courtesy of Arizona AthleticsΒ
In his senior year at Arizona, Wright won the menβs 200 butterfly in the USA Championships, qualifying for the USA National team. He was fifth in the 200 fly for the Wildcats at the NCAA finals.
Β
74. Aari McDonald
Updated
Arizona guard Aari McDonald (2) takes the the low road to squeeze under Northern Arizona guard Regan Schenck (1) in the first quarter of their game at McKale Center, Friday, December 21, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
Few basketball players in UA history got off to the kind of start the sophomore transfer from Washington did. She averaged 23.7 points through 10 games; her 39 points against Loyola Marymount tied the Wildcats' single-game scoring record.
73. Manny Quiroz
Updated
Sunnysideβs senior soccer all-star has scored 44Β goals (and counting) the last two seasons.
Β
72. Mike Urbanski
Updated
Mike Urbanski leads a weekly run on Tohono Chul Park's Desert View Trail on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012 in Tucson, Ariz. Photo by Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
Salpointe Catholicβs accomplished cross country coach piloted the Lancers girls to their second state championship in three years.
71. Kaskile Zawadi
Updated
The Pima men's soccer team gather around the national championship plaque in front of their welcoming fans shortly after exiting the bus.
In PCCβs burst to the NJCAA menβs soccer championship, Zawadi β a sophomore defenderΒ from Cholla High School β was selected to the All-AmericaΒ second team.
70. Jada Talley
Updated
Jada Talley
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69. Rick Schantz
Updated
FC Tucson head coach Rick Schantz talks with midfielder Musa Morris before taking on the University of Arizona in an exhibition game at Kino Sports Complex, Wednesday, May 4, 2016, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
One of the leading names in Tucson soccer history became Phoenix Risingβs interim head coach during the USL season, led the Rising to a 12-7-1 record and then guided it to the USL title game. Schantz, a former FC Tucson coach, was then named permanent head coachΒ .
68. Cory Petska
Updated
Cory Petska, of Marana, Ariz., competes in the team roping event during the seventh go-round of the National Finals Rodeo, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, in Las Vegas.
67. Tony Amato
Updated
Tony Amato
Arizonaβs soccer coach reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, going 13-6-2 overall.
66. Derik Hall
Updated
Hall became an all-WSFL first-team defensive back as a Pima College sophomore. The former Sahuaro High School standout made 83 tackles, fourth in the league.
65. Kristie Stevens
Updated
Stevens coached Catalina Foothillsβ girls tennis team to a 17-0 record and her 12th state championship.
64. Isaiah Murphy
Updated
Pima's Isaiah Murphy drives for the hoop around Delta's Jalen Fykes in the NJCAA Div II basketball tournament semifinal game in Danville, Ill, on March 23, 2018.
Murphy averaged 15.9 points per game for Pima Collegeβs basketball team, guiding theΒ Β Aztecs to 31 victories and a No. 2 finish in the NJCAA.
63. Delaney Schnell
Updated
Delaney Schnell, 18, works on one of her dives during a practice at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center on Wednesday June 28, 2017. Schnell says she started diving when she was 10 years old. She is now one of the best in the nation.
The freshman diver from Tucson High was the Pac-12 freshman Diver of the Year, finishing sixth in the NCAA 1-meter diving championships.
62. Casey OβBrien
Updated
Sunnyside Blue Devil pride adorns an entrance gate to the football stadium at Sunnyside High School in Tucson, Ariz., Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Photo by Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
Sunnyside High School's soccer coach has gone 27-4-2 the last two seasons, and the Blue Devils were ranked No. 1 in the state through Dec. 20.
61. Diana Montano
Updated
Salpointe's Diana Montano (11) records the last out of the game, flipping to first on Tucson's Arriana Santa Maria's (10) ground ball in the seventh inning of their state D II elimination playoff game at Amphitheater High School, Wednesday, May 11, 2016, Tucson, Ariz.
In Salpointe Catholicβs state championship softball season, Montano, a junior, drove in a team-high 64 runs and hit .450 with eight home runs.
More: Greg Hansen's Top 100 sports figures of 2018: 100-81.Β
60. Ian Kinsler
UpdatedWinning a World Series as Bostonβs second baseman the last half of the season, the CDO grad hit 14 home runs and was awarded his second career Gold Glove.
59. Taylor McQuillin
Updated
Arizona pitcher Taylor McQuillin (18) leaves the field past Mississippi State after winning 4-3 to advance to the Super Regional.
Arizonaβs pitching ace won 28 games, had a 1.67 ERA and was third in the Pac-12 with 287 strikeouts.
Β
58. Adia Barnes
Updated
Arizona Wildcats head coach Adia Barnes directs a drill during the first UA women's basketball practice of the season at McKale Center, Sept. 28, 2018.
Rebuilding Arizonaβs womenβs basketball program, Barnes produced the nationβs No. 4 overall recruiting class and guided her team to nine consecutive wins in November and December.
57. Nick Quintana
Updated
Arizona's Nick Quintana (13) bangs helmets with on deck batter Donta Williams (3) after crushing a solo homer in the fifth inning against UCLA at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., Thursday, May 3, 2018.
Arizonaβs all-Pac-12 third baseman hit .313 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs as a sophomore.
56. Trenton Bourguet
Updated
Marana's Trenton Bourguet looks to pass against Horizon Β during their game Friday, Aug.17, 2018.
Marana High School's senior quarterback passed for 2,460 yards, giving him a Tucson prep career record of 7,612 yards, with 89 career touchdown passes.
55. Jesse Ybarra and Anthony Leon
Updated
Ybarra, a junior ranked No. 12 in the nation, has won back-to-back state wrestling championships and accepted a scholarship offer to Iowa. Head coach Anthony Leon piloted the Blue Devils to yet another state title.
Β
54. Tim Derksen
Updated
San Francisco's Tim Derksen drives during a game against UC Riverside in November 2016. Derksen scored the game-winning basket with 3.7 seconds left, leading the Dons to a 58-57 win. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Trapp/USF
After opening his EuroLeague career in Spain, the former Amphitheater High state player of the year was leading the Slovakian league with 18.9 points per game.Β
53. Steve Botkin
Updated
Sahuaro High School head coach Steve Botkin cheers on his team as the Cougars take on the Mesa Jackrabbits during the high school Division II state quarterfinals on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz.
Sahuaro High School's enduring girls basketball coach won his 500th game at the school. No other girls coach in Tucson prep basketball history has even 400.
52. Bernard Lagat
Updated
Bernard Lagat, left, celebrates a win in the finals of the men's 5000-meter run with Paul Chelimo at the U.S. Olympic trials in 2016.
Β
51. Umajesty Williams
Updated
Umajesty Williams, left, helped the Wildcats pass the finish line first in the men's 4X400 relay at the Pac-12 championships.
A freshman, Arizonaβs school-record holder at 400 meters finished second in the Pac-12 finals and then capped the meet in a dazzling comeback in the 400 relays, giving Arizona its first-ever championship in the event.
50. Nick Gonzales
Updated
New Mexico Stateβs Nick Gonzales runs to first base during an NCAA Tournament game against Texas Tech on Friday, June 1, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas.
After a strong prep season at Cienega High School, Gonzales became the starting second baseman for New Mexico Stateβs WAC champions, hitting a team-high .347. He was named the WAC Freshman of the Year.
49. Shelley Duncan
Updated
Shelley Duncan, right, a former Wildcat showed playing in theΒ University of Arizona baseball alumni game on Jan. 27, 2018, recently was hired as a field coordinator for the MLB's Toronto Blue Jays.
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48. Jim Monaco
Updated
Pima head coach Jim Monaco finished the season and the football program with strong memories and satisfaction of a memorable year.
Even though his school chose to eliminate its football program beginning in 2019, Monaco persevered, coaching Pima College to a 6-4 record, the Heart of Texas Bowl and a No. 20 ranking in the NJCAA. He was recently named the school's athletic director.Β
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47. Alyssa Thompson
Updated
UA track athlete Alyssa Thompson works on her high jump during practice at Drachman Stadium, 501 S Plumer Ave, Tucson, AZ. on March 9, 2018.
In her final season at Arizona, the Salpointe Catholic grad finished third in the Pac-12 long jump and third in the Pac-12 heptathlon, and was one of 12 conference student-athletes selected as a Postgraduate Scholarship recipient.
46. Brent Strom
Updated
Seth Clem takes a selfie with his parents and Strom during the fundraising event. Strom won College World Series titles in 1970 and 1971 with USC before beginning his professional career, which included a stop with the Tucson Toros in 1980.
Houstonβs accomplished pitching coach, a longtime Tucson resident, helped the Astros reach the American League Championship Series after winning the AL West Division.
45. Javier Holguin, Alex Rangel, Gabe Mendoza
Updated
Pima College's men's soccer team celebrates after winning the NJCAA National Championship.
Pima Collegeβs assistant menβs soccer coaches not only helped the Aztecs win the national championship,Β but were chosen as the staff of the year by the United Soccer Coaches of America.
44. Neysia Howard
Updated
Tucson High's Neysia Howard takes the baton from teammate Jenica Bosko and sprints to the finish to win the Division I girl's 4x100 Relay during the AIA Track & Field State Championships at Mesa Community College on Friday, May 5, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz.
Howard swept theΒ Β 100 and 200 meters at the state championships and was part of Tucson Highβs state-title-winning 4x100 relay team. She is now a freshman at Arizona.
Β
43. Bill Leith
Updated
Bill Leith, president of Sun Belt Baseball and a half-dozen other youth baseball ventures poses for a photo at Kino Sports Complex on July 10, 2018 in Tucson, AZ.
The director of both the Kino Baseball League and the Sun Belt College Baseball League experienced the most productive season yet in the sixth year of his vast organization.
42. Eric Tatham
Updated
Cienega's head coach Eric Tatham instructs his team against Sahuaro during the 5A high school softball state championship game in Tempe, Ariz. May 15, 2017.
Cienegaβs able softball coach piloted the Bobcats to their third state title in four years, finishing 29-6.
41. Kate Bruno
Updated
In her sophomore season at Pima College, Bruno, from Canyon del Oro High School, won the ACCAC and Region championships in cross country and finished ninth in the NJCAA, backing up her spring finish of No. 9 in the NJCAA 1,500 meter finals.
40. Kelsey Jenkins
Updated
Kelsey Jenkins takes a swing at the ball during batting practice at Sabino High School in 2014.
39. Yash Parikh and Harsh Parikh
Updated
Salpointe Catholic's Yash Parikh hits a backhand return during the Division II Boy's Singles Final against Thunderbird's Carlos Hassey at the Paseo Racquet Center in Glendale on Saturday, April 30, 2016.
38. Mike Van Ryn
Updated
Former Tucson Roadrunners head coach Mike Van Ryn, center, talks to his players on the bench during Game 1 of a first-round AHL playoff game against the San Jose Barracuda, April 19, 2018.
His first and only year as coach of the Tucson Roadrunners was a triumph, as the Roadrunners went 42-20-5-1 and won the AHL Pacific division.
37. Keven Biggs
Updated
Sophomore guard Keven Biggs moves in for a hug from head coach Brian Peabody at a congratulatory rally for the Pima Aztecs basketball team that finished second in the national NJCAA Division II Tournament in March 2018.
A big part of Pima Collegeβs run to the NJCAA menβs basketball championship game, Biggs, a Cienega High School grad, averaged a team-high 17 points per game.
36. Brooks Reed
Updated
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Brooks Reed (50) rushes in against the Carolina Panthers offense during an NFL game, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta.
The Atlanta Falcons pass-rusher, now in his eighth season in the NFL, has 24 tacklesΒ . He is a Sabino High School and UA grad.
35. Marvol Barnard
Updated
Golf instructor Marvol Barnard, named the LPGAβs National Teacher of the Year, is Director of Instruction at Haven Golf Course in Green Valley.
A golf instructor at Green Valleyβs Haven Golf Course, Barnard was named the PGA of Americaβs 2018 National Player Development pro of the year.
34. Isabel Pacho
Updated
Ironwood Ridge shortstop Isabel Pacho, right, greets infielder Maddie Judge during practice. Pachoβs coach, Dave Martinez, calls her βa complete captain.β
Pacho closed her productive Ironwood Ridge High School softball career with 30 career home runs and 149 RBI. She is now part of Mike Candreaβs Arizona softball team.
33. Kym Adair
Updated
Kym Adair is one of just three women who serve as bowl directors.
After helping the growth of the Arizona Bowl in its marketing department, Adair became the gameβs executive director this year. She is just the second of two females to hold such a position in the NCAAβs 41 bowl games.
32. Preston Clifford
Updated
Starting pitcher Preston Clifford of Sabino during the Arizona 3A baseball championship game at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson on May 14, 2018.
Leading Sabino High to its first state baseball championship in 21 years, Clifford, a junior, went 8-0 as a pitcher and hit .398. He was the winning pitcher in the state title game.
31. Kristiana Watson
Updated
Kristiana Watson photographed in the Arizona Daily Star studio on May 22, 2018.
In her sophomore season at Amphitheater High School, Watson hit an astonishing .716 with 14 home runs and 51 RBI.
30. Alyssa Palomino
Updated
Arizona's Alyssa Palomino celebrates at second after scorching a line drive off the glove of the Saint Francis second baseman in the NCAA Regional, May 18, 2018.
Arizonaβs sophomore first baseman hit .363 and led the Pac-12 with 19 home runs as a first-team all-conference selection.
29. Alex Verdugo
Updated
Los Angeles Dodgers' Alex Verdugo in action during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in Los Angeles, Monday, Sept. 3, 2018.
The Sahuaro High School grad played in 37 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .260, after playing at a star level at Triple-A Oklahoma City, hitting .329 with 10 home runs in half a season.
28. Kendra Dahlke
Updated
Arizonaβs Kendra Dahlke (8) attempts a kill in the first set against Missouri as teammate Paige Whipple looks on during the NCAA volleyball first round, Nov. 30, 2018,Β
A first-team All-Pac-12 volleyball player, the UA senior also was part of the AVCAβs honorable mention All-American team.
27. Ben Kern
Updated
Former Palo Verde golfer Ben Kern was the only club pro to make the cut at the PGA Championship.
The former Tucson golf pro, a state champion from Palo Verde High School, qualified for the PGA Championship by finishing No. 9 in the PGA Club Professionals championship. He was the only club pro to make the cut in the PGA finals, finishing 42nd and earning $33,281.
26. The Fetsis family
Updated
Pusch Ridge quarterback Christian Fetsis throws against Casteel's defense during the 3A state title game at Campo Verde High School, Nov. 25, 2017, in Gilbert.
In a remarkable tennis season at Pusch Ridge, the Lions won the state championship in boys and girls competition behind coach Andy Fetsis, whose daughter, Sofia, won the Division III state singles title, and whose son, Christian, won the Division III doubles state title.
25. Izzy and Ilyssa Galindo
Updated
Pueblo's head coach Izzy Galindo looks for an explanation from an official after a foul call during second half action against South Mountain in the Division III state basketball playoff game, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, at Gila River Arena in Glendale.
The father-daughter combo for Pueblo Highβs girls state championship runner-up set a school record with 30 wins. Izzy, the coach, had gone 113-22 in four-plus seasons through Dec. 20. Ilyssa, a senior guard, averaged 12.4 points and 7.0 assists.
24. Ali Farhang
Updated
Chairman Ali Farhang says the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl has βgot to belong to the communityβ if itβs going to last.
The successful founder and chairman of the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl somehow found time to become a partner in the Tucson Sugar Skulls of the Indoor Football League.
23. Julie Hairgrove and Matt Brase
Updated
Phoenix Mercury assistant Julie Hairgrove, right, was a star at Catalina Foothills High School and the UA.
The sister-and-brother pair from Catalina Foothills High School and the UA each coached into the playoffs in their respective pro basketball league. Hairgrove, an assistant for the WNBAβs Phoenix Mercury, helped her team reach the Western ConferenceΒ finals. Brase, head coach of the G Leagueβs Rio Grande Valley Vipers, reached the conference semifinals, then was hired as a full-time assistant coach of the Houston Rockets.
22. Dennis Bene
Updated
Head coach Dennis Bene directs his team during Salpointe Catholic High School football practice at the school, 1545 E. Copper St., on Aug. 1, 2018, in Tucson.
Salpointeβs football coach has gone 26-2 the last two seasons, reaching two state championship games while establishing himself as one of the top football coaches in Tucson history.
21. Allonzo Trier
Updated
New York Knicks guard Allonzo Trier reacts after a 3-point basket against the Dallas Mavericks in an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, in Dallas.Β
Averaging 18.1 points in his final season at Arizona, Trier was chosen to the All-Pac-12 first team and then made the New York Knicks roster as an undrafted free agent, averaging 11.3 points through 27 games.
20. Jacqulynn Nakai
Updated
Jacqulynn Nakai lines up a shot during the Pima Community College Aztecs women's basketball team practice at the west campus on Jan. 4, 2018, in Tucson.
In her freshman season at Pima College, the point guard from Flagstaff was named the ACCAC Player of the Year and a first-team NJCAA Division II All-American, averaging 17.7 points for a 23-9 team. Nakai averaged 22.2 points through the first six weeks of this season.
19. Levi Wallace
Updated
FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) stiff-arms Buffalo Bills defensive back Levi Wallace (47) during the second half of an NFL football preseason game, in Cleveland. Mayfield has worked hard, played well enough and seems to understand he needs to be patient while learning behind Tyrod Taylor.
18. J.J. Taylor
Updated
Arizona Wildcats running back J.J. Taylor (21) evades Arizona State's Dasmond Tautalatasi during the third quarter of the Territorial Cup, Nov. 24, 2018, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson.
17. Haley Moore
Updated
Arizona's Haley Moore watches her shot from the fourth tee during the final round of the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, May 23, 2018.
16. Bijan Robinson
Updated
Salpointe Catholic running back Bijan Robinson (5) dispatches of Scottsdale Saguaro's Bryan Deboard (12) during the second quarter of the Salpointe Catholic vs. Scottsdale Saguaro 4A state championship football game, Nov. 30, 2018, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz.
15. Bryce Cotton
Updated
Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris, left, defends as Perth guard Bryce Cotton passes the ball during the first half of an NBA exhibition basketball game Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, in Denver.
14. Jordan Geist
Updated
Jordan Geist takes his second attempt at the shot put at the University of Arizona's Winter All-Comers Meet at Drachman Stadium, Saturday, December 8, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
13. Bob Hoffman
Updated
Bob Hoffman, team president, is all smiles as he listens to Adrian Denny, the Voice of the Roadrunners, speak during the second annual Tucson Roadrunners Faceoff Luncheon at the Tucson Convention Center on October 2, 2018.
12. Andy Trouard
Updated
Andy Trouard added the 3,000 to two national cross country titles.
11. George Cunningham
Updated
Former Wildcats standout George Cunningham is making a name for himself on the Canadian Tour.
An All-Pac-12 first team golfer as a UA senior, the Tucson product then stepped it up a notch, finishing No. 2 on the Canadian Tour money list. He earned more than $65,000 in two PGA Tour events, clinching his Web.com Tour card for the 2019 season.
10. Sarah Sellers
Updated
Sarah Sellers, a nurse anesthetist CRNA, at Banner-University Medical Center, talks about her second-place finish at the Boston Marathon during a press conference at on April 19, 2018.
9. Bianca Pagdanganan
Updated8. Deandre Ayton
Updated
DeAndre Ayton gets ready for a photo during his first Phoenix Suns Media Day at the Talking Stick Resort Arena.
7. Brian Peabody
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Head coach Brian Peabody bumps fists with forward Robert Wilson at last yearβs rally for the Pima menβs basketball team. The Aztecs return to the national championships after finishing second last season.
6. Blake Martinez
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Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) runs from Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Blake Martinez (50) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Minneapolis.
In his third season as Green Bayβs starting middle linebacker, the CDO and Stanford grad shined.Β Martinez is ranked No. 2Β in the NFL with 132 tackles through Dec. 23; his total of 276Β tackles the last two seasons is tops in pro football.
5. Craig Bjornson
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Houston Astros Bullpen Coach Craig Bjornson (52) talks with Houston Astros Non-Roster Invitee Pitcher Brian Holmes (70), Houston Astros Non-Roster Invitee Pitcher C.J. Riefenhauser (58) and other players on the field during a Houston Astros spring training workout at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida on February 18, 2017.
4. Dave Cosgrove
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Dave Cosgrove talks to the press after being announced at a conference at the new coach for FC Tucson, Wednesday, February 21, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
3. Roman Bravo-Young
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Sunnyside's Roman Bravo-Young celebrates beating Mesa's Steven Jaman in the Division I, 132-pound weight class, during the AIA State Wrestling Championships at the Prescott Valley Event Center on Feb. 9, 2018.
2. Hugo Kametani
Updated1. Laura Ianello
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Women's golf coach Laura Ianello led the Wildcats to the NCAA title in 2018 and signed a five-year contract extension through 2026.Β
Arizonaβs womenβs golf coach piloted her team to the NCAA championship.
MORE: From 'no chance' to national champ, Laura Ianello is No. 1 sports figure of 2018
