John Ellegood

Gila Ridge football

In his first year as the Hawks’ coach, Ellegood guided Gila Ridge to easily the program’s best-ever season. Gila Ridge went 9-1 in the regular season, and then as the No. 9 seed in the 4A state playoffs, the Hawks became the first YUHSD football team since 1965 to win a state playoff game when they edged No. 8 Coconino in the first round. Not done yet, the Hawks then upset No. 1 Sahuaro in the quarterfinals before falling to No. 4 Desert Edge in the semis.