Flagstaff Sports Foundation

10/07/2026

We’re proud to recognize Millennial Medical for their generous support of the Flagstaff Sports Foundation! ❤️

Their support helps us continue creating opportunities for local athletes and strengthening the role sports play throughout our community.

Millennial Medical is also the company behind crutches.com helping people stay mobile and keep moving forward with innovative mobility solutions.

We’re grateful to have partners who believe in our mission and invest in the Flagstaff community.

Thank you, Millennial Medical, for being part of the FSF team!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4hqhGl6

09/30/2026

Support local athletes. Strengthen our community. ❤️

For just $100 a year, your business can become a Flagstaff Sports Foundation Community Partner and help local student-athletes access the equipment, opportunities and support they need to participate in sports.

As a Community Partner, you’ll receive a window decal that lets your customers know your business proudly supports local sports and local kids.

Join us and help more Flagstaff athletes get in the game.

Learn more and donate here: https://flagstaffsportsfoundation.org/donate

Email us to get your window decal: [email protected]

09/30/2026

ON THIS DAY IN HALL OF FAME HISTORY...

On September 30, 1989, Flagstaff High School grad DAVID WINSLEY had his best day as a collegiate runningback. His Arizona State Sun Devils beat the Missouri Tigers, 19-3, and in doing so, David ran for 134 yards in his first start.

By the time he graduated from Flag High in 1986, David had become Arizona's all-time leading ground gainer, rushing for 4,880 yards, surpassing the legendary GEORGE GREATHOUSE. Injuries, however, plagued him at ASU, keeping him off the gridiron and in rehab. He was voracious in the weight room, and his work ethic slowly brought him playing time, first as a return man, then in the offensive backfield. By his senior year he had worked his way into the starting lineup, and in that 1989 season he would lead the Sun Devils in rushing with 470 yards. His game against Missouri, at Sun Devil Stadium, in front of 64,000 fans, David showed his talents in full force, showing the magic that had made him one of the most sought-after prospects in the country when he was wearing the Green and Brown at Flag High.

David was inducted into the Flagstaff Sports Foundation in 2026.

09/23/2026

Meet Dr. Rick Smith, President of the Flagstaff Sports Foundation.

For Rick, the Foundation is about more than sports. It’s about creating opportunities for local kids, strengthening our community and making sure cost doesn’t keep a young athlete from getting in the game.

Since 2008, the Flagstaff Sports Foundation has helped more than 700 local kids participate in sports, and we’re continuing to build on that impact.

We sat down with Rick to talk about his connection to Flagstaff, why this mission matters to him and what he hopes more people know about the work happening behind the scenes.

Get to know Rick and the heart behind the Flagstaff Sports Foundation.

09/16/2026

Some Flagstaff sports stories deserve to be remembered. Who would you nominate?

Nominations are now open for the 2027 Flagstaff Sports Hall of Fame.

We’re looking for the athletes, coaches, teams and contributors whose achievements and impact have helped shape Flagstaff’s sports community.

Maybe it’s a coach who influenced generations of athletes. A team whose season is still talked about today. An athlete who made Flagstaff proud. Or someone behind the scenes whose contributions made a lasting difference.

Now is your chance to help make sure their story is recognized.

Nominations are accepted for:
Athletes | Coaches | Teams | Contributors

Visit our website to review the selection criteria and submit a nomination. https://flagstaffsportsfoundation.org/selection-process

Who belongs in the Flagstaff Sports Hall of Fame? Nominate them today.

09/15/2026

ON THIS DAY IN HALL OF FAME HISTORY...

On September 15, 1967, BILL EPPERSON coached his first game as the head coach for Coconino Football. They played the Flagstaff JV at Flagstaff High School and won, 25-0. DAN BENSON is credited with scoring the first touchdown in Panther history.

In previous years, Bill had been an assistant at Flag High under the tutelage of JOHN PLY. When Coconino opened in the fall of '67. Bill was tasked with creating Panther Football from scratch. In that first season, they played an independent schedule, not part of any conference. They played eight games, three of them against JV competition; in addition to playing Flag High's JV squad, they also played Prescott JV twice, beating them on both occasions.

Three weeks after beating Flag High JV, Bill and his Panthers would get their first full-fledged varsity win, 13-12 at Holbrook.

They would go on to finish their inaugural season with a 5-3 mark. They had no seniors, only underclassmen. The nucleus for that '67 team would go on to lead the Panthers to the Class AA state championship in '68.

Bill Epperson was inducted into the Flagstaff Sports Foundation's Hall of Fame in 2011.

09/09/2026

It's getting late, but it's still LARRY JOHNSON'S BIRTHDAY!

The Flagstaff Sports Foundation would like to say Happy Birthday to the inductee from our Class of 2024. He was a vital component to Flagstaff High School's Class AA State Championship in 1975; the Eagles went 25-0, and Larry earned First Team All-Conference and All-State honors. He continued his success at Mesa Community College, where he was named All-Conference, and NAU, where he was named Big Sky Player of the Week.

After his playing days, he continued in basketball as a coach at Cheyenne High School in Nevada, where his Desert Shield teams went to three state championship games, winning one in 2003 with a record of 31-1.

09/04/2026

Here are a couple of gems from last year, courtesy of RAY TSINGINE. Four Hall of Famers, hanging out at NAU's Homecoming in 2025. You've got Ray, WILLARD REAVES, RAY SMITH, and WILLARD TSINGINE. All Coconino grads of great reknown. All went to NAU to continue their legends.

08/31/2026

Kylyn Taylor and Yohanes van Meerten took wins in the Peaks Invitational summit races to kick off the 2026 high school cross country season.

08/30/2026

The spirit of BULLDOG TURNER (Hall of Fame Class of 2015) is alive and well at Coconino Football.

I am THRILLED that Coconino Football is keeping the memory of DAVID "BULLDOG" TURNER alive with their weekly BULLDOG OF THE WEEK award, given to the Panther who exhibits Bulldog's virtues of toughness and tenacity.

For Week One, DANIEL VILLAS is Coconino's Bulldog of the Week. He registered seven tackles and a sack against the top-ranked Snowflake Lobos.

I know everyone in town remembers Bulldog and is wife, JANNIE TURNER, as ubiquitous and beloved members of the Coconino Community, but a quick bio for those new to the program: Bulldog graduated from Flag High in 1964, after which he joined the Navy and spent two tours in Vietnam as a jet mechanic and in helicopter search and rescue. He came back to Flagstaff, married Jannie, and spent over forty years as an educator and coach. For as much as he was known for his rugged exterior, he was always fair and he was always there. He finally retired from coaching in 2014 but never stopped being a warm, friendly presence around town. He passed away two summers ago, as did Jannie this summer.

Thank you to Josh Clouse for keeping Bulldog's spirit alive and to James Garcia for posting about it on his page.