Centennial coach Richard Taylor has been working on his coaching craft since 1972. He's now finishing his his 35th season at Centennial, which he opened in 1990. Over four decades, plenty has changed in Arizona as well as the high school football landscape. But thanks to Taylor, the Coyote football program has remained steadfast a consistent. 

The Hall of Fame coach has 265 wins to 94 losses during his tenure at Centennial. The Coyotes have made the playoffs 22 times, collected 24 region titles. Today's 6A state championship contest against Mesa Mountain View marks the 13th time Centennial has advanced to a state title game. Centennial has won seven of those 12 championship battles. All the while, nearly 250 of his players have gone on to play college football.

It's certainly a resume without much peer

"Coach Taylor is one of the most successful coaches in all of high school football history," says current quarterback Kainan Manna, and he likely wasn't just referring to Arizona.

"He does it by sticking to a regime, and following every detail to a t. The operation of a practice is a no nonsense zone and we get things done as efficiently as possible."

This day in age, longevity in high school coaching is a feat in itself. 35 years at the same school speaks to the dedication and committment the coach and longtime history teacher has to the school and community.
 

Last Hurrah?

Today's title bout is hardly Taylor's first rodeo...but could it be his last?

Taylor rarely gets emotional as he was after last week’s semifinal victory over Queen Creek, causing some to speculate a looming retirement, perhaps as soon as this offseason.
“I didn’t expect that reaction last week,” Taylor admits. “But I think it’s because of the nature of this season and what these kids have done. After we were 0-4, people said this was the worst Centennial team ever, and now they've reached the championship team.”
Tayor, whose coaching career began in Ohio, admits the end of the road is near, but wouldn’t confirm when it will happen.

The Arizona legend admits he may need to start slowing down. "I still have a love for the game and I still love the competition," Taylor said at Monday's media day. "But I am getting tired."

With his son Andrew a longtime mainstay on the defensive side of the ball, Centennial willl be likely be set for a smooth transition whenever that time comes.

"Coach Richard and coach Andrew have showed me what it's like to run a perfect brand," Mainann added. "I wouldn't want to do it with any other program." 

Centennial coach Richard Taylor congratulates former Basha star Demond Williams Jr. after the Coyotes beat the Bears in last year's Open semifinal. (Ben Stapley/AZPreps365)

From Mountain View to Mountain View 

In a relatively short amount of time, first year Toro head coach Andy Litten has emerged as one of the state’s best. 

He’s developed a reputation as a sharp offensive mind and with a ‘quarterback-whisperer’ type of coaching talent. 

The Marana native has also proven his ability to captain an entire program. 

Litten prepped at Marana Mountain View as an offensive lineman before walking on at the University of Arizona in 2000. 

His first head coaching job came in 2013 at Marana High, which was a near rock-bottom as a program. 

Litten turned things around in his six seaso1, going 36-28 before taking the offensive coordinator position at Hamilton in 2018. 

Litten spent three successful years at Hamilton. Then-defensive coordinator Tim Daugherty knew Litten was going places. 

“Andy and I are both competitive and we’d get after it in practices,” Daugherty said. “But it was always productive for everyone. He has such a passion for football and always wants the kids to improve.” 

Greatness on the Horizon 

Litten was hired to take over the Horizon program in 2021 and he stamped his imprint immediately, leading the Huskies to the 2021 5A championship. 

Litten reached the quarterfinals and semi’s in his next two seasons and was becoming a hot coaching commodity. 

When Mountain View’s job opened unexpectedly last spring, Litten quickly became a top candidate. 

“It was really flattering to be considered with a program like that,” Litten admitted last Spring. “I loved Horizon and the kids.”

Littten was eventually hired, and nine months later the Toros are competing for a 6A title for the first time since 2006. Coincidentally, ‘06 was Centennial’s first state championship (5A). The Coyotes season included a week one victory over Mountain View. 

“Coach Litten has been amazing,” Toro three year said after Mountain View’s week 10 win over Red Mountain. “What Coach Germaine did for our program the last few years was important restoring the Toro brand. Coach Litten has his methods but he was also respectful about the history and tradition. He wanted to understand the Toro way.”

A win today and many will believe in the Andy Litten way