It won't be a corporate name Friday night (Aug. 26) when Mesa Mountain View drops an official moniker on its field. But  the decision to name the field that's housed eight state championship teams in its history in Jesse Parker's honor is as good as gold.

Parker, 77, was 37 when he took the job as a history teacher and football coach at Mountain View when the school opened in 1976. His coaching style -- tough. Unapologetically so. Tougher than some thought it should be, particularly as time passed and society's ideas changed quickly when the 1990s and new millennium arrived. Parker didn't change, may have backed off some, but toed the line of what was acceptable even in his last stint as head coach at Gilbert High where he posted his 300th win in a decade run there that ended after the 2008 season.

Parker's style wasn't any different in the classroom where he taught history and challenged students as rigorously as he did players. Perhaps some students and players didn't come away from Parker's task-master approach feeling helped or bettered. The vast majority did. It's evidenced when trying to find Parker at a sporting event or public location when former students/players notice him and stream to pay their respects.

Parker, as outspoken as anyone you would ever meet, said Monday he's appreciative of  the honor coming his way. 

"It's a big surprise," Parker said. "Mesa isn't known for doing something like this very often. I was in Texas and Oklahoma when I found out about it. It's quite an honor."

Along with honoring Parker, Mountain View will honor its eight state championship teams (the 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2002 squads). A cherry on top of the proceedings would be by winning its game Friday vs. Valley Vista. A win by Mountain View would be its 400th and first for its newest head coach, Mike Fell, in his debut.

Parker hearkens back to the school's first principal, James Curlett, who wasn't afraid of trying new things or letting coaches coach in the way they deemed best. Curlett hired Parker away from Camelback where he'd won a state title (1974) and been runner-up (1973). In Parker's tenure as coach (1976-1994) the Toros won four titles (1978, 1983, 1986, 1993) and were runner-up three times (1986, 1987 and 1992).

Parker is especially appreciative of Curlett's decision to have Mountain View delve into advanced placement education. Parker has never been in favor of the ordinary or routine -- he craved going for the top, the seemingly unreachable. That approach earned numerous teaching awards and challenged A students to work as hard as they ever had for another A.  

"Jim was an exceptional guy," Parker said. "He made me department head and allowed us to become the first school in the Valley to have AP classes. I'm proudest, to be honest, of my work in the classroom. I wanted to help the school every way I could, teaching and coaching."

Parker said he is anxious about Friday, concerned he may not be able to recall the names of former players and well-wishers. I brought up one Monday in our conversation who played for him 25 years ago. Parker quickly went on for about a minute telling me about him. Parker's memory is about as good as anyone's who's taught and coached the scores of kids he has.

Parker, who has battled skin cancer for quite some time following a kidney transplant from his wife, Latsy, about a decade ago, is facing an accelerated battle with it of late. He pooh-poohs it and is looking forward to welcoming his kids to town this week to help enjoy the week. Oldest son Robert works in China, youngest son, Jonathan, resides in California. Daughter, Kathy, lives in the Valley and teaches in the Mesa school system.

"It will be nice to have them here," Parker said. "Not easy getting us together at one time."

Not easy getting to Parker one-on-one in a group setting. I've come to making a breakfast appointment from time to time with him to catch up. That's why I called him Monday. Come Friday I suspect  a difficult time greeting him. He'll be lost in a sea of admirers. Quite appropriate.