(2013 Hall of Fame class: (L-R) Barry Clothier, who accepted the honor posthumously for his father, Barry. Also inducted, Paul Williams, Jim Beall, Dan Mannix, Valorie McKenzie. Photo by Jose Garcia/aia365.com)

Five current or former Arizona high school coaches were feted for their contributions to their sports during the 30^th annual Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame ceremony.

Jim Beall, H.T. Clothier, Dan Mannix, Valorie McKenzie and Paul Williams are the newest members of the Hall of Fame, an honor that’s been bestowed upon 184 Arizona high school coaching legends. More than 100 family members and friends attended Sunday’s ceremony at the Phoenix Elks Lodge.

2013 Hall of Fame Class

Jim Beall

During his 30-year career, Beall coached at 10 different schools, won three state championships (Snowflake 1991 and 1992; Payson 1998) and almost 60 percent of his games and led Higley to a runner-up finish in 2006. 

“It’s another journey in my life that I really appreciate,” said Beall about the induction ceremony.

H.T. Clothier

Clothier coached Duncan’s tennis program for 42 seasons, beginning in 1935, when he became the school’s first tennis coach.

During that time span, Duncan won 23 state championships and 41 individual state championships. Clothier also started Duncan’s volleyball program and won a reported 90 percent of his volleyball matches.

“When my father (Clothier) passed away, a former student told me that I was lucky,” said Clothier’s son, Barry, during Sunday’s ceremony. “You (Barry) had him (Clothier) every day,’ the student said. ‘I just had him for once class.”

Dan Mannix

Mannix won 562 games during his 33 seasons as Sunnyslope’s boys basketball coach, where he still teaches and is an assistant coach.

Sunnyslope’s gym is named after Mannix, who won two state titles and had a 65% win percentage. Mannix thanked his assistant coaches and former players during the event Sunday.

Delegating authority is one of the best career moves he ever made, Mannix said during the ceremony.

Valorie McKenzie

The state’s all-time leader in volleyball coaching victories with more than 750 wins didn’t keep track of her win-loss record early in her career.

Making sure her program started off on the right foot was McKenzie’s early concern when she opened Horizon’s volleyball program in 1980. Thirty-four seasons later, McKenzie is still going strong.

This season, Horizon won its third state title under McKenzie.

“This (Hall of Fame) honor touches my heart,” McKenzie said. “But coaching touches my soul.”

Paul Williams

Williams is one of the coaching giants Cactus High has produced.

In 33 seasons, the amicable Williams won five track state titles and has also helped the school’s football program win a couple of state titles as an assistant coach. Williams retired from teaching, but he’s still coaching at the school he loves.

“Cactus is my family,” said Williams last week during an interview. “It’s the best high school in the state. If you think I’m fibbing, come and walk around the campus for a day.”