The CIF-Southern Section on Wednesday announced the 32nd class of inductees
into the section’s Hall of Fame and its Distinguished Servie Award recipients.
Several who made large contributions to Orange County high school sports are included.
The honorees will be recognized at a luncheon at The Grand Conference Center in Long Beach on October 14 starting at 11:30 a.m.
The O.C. honorees:
HALL OF FAME AWARDS – 2015
Marijon Ancich
– 31 Years, Head Football Coach – St. Paul High School and Tustin High School
– Overall Record – 360-134-4; 2nd winningest coach in California, winningest coach in the
history of the CIF Southern Section
– 3 CIF Southern Section Championships, 8 CIF Southern Section Finals appearances
– 19 League Championships
– Also coached as an assistant at Northern Arizona University and Cerritos College
– Hall of Fame – National High School Hall of Fame (1999) and Cal Poly SLO (2004)
– Coach of the Year – LA Times, LA Herald Examiner, Whittier Daily News, NFL/KABC
– Two sons – Dusan (Villa Park High School) and Visko (Whittier High School) are currently
Head Football Coaches at CIF Southern Section schools
Earl Engman
– 38 Years – Santa Ana High School – Teacher, Coach and Administrator
– Had a tremendous impact on athletic programs in Orange County, the CIF Southern Section
and the CIF State organization
– Worked as a coach, official, referee and manager of countless track meets
– Created Earl’s Army, a group of volunteers who helped run track meets locally, but also the
CIF State Track and Field Championships
– As a coach, won 2 CIF Southern Section Track and Field Championships
– The track at Santa Ana High School is named in his honor
– Earl Engman Relays – A local track meet named in his honor
– Famous for his smile and “Earl Hugs”
– Passed away in 1993
Frank Gonzales
– In 1973, began as an assistant wrestling coach at Pacifica High School
– 1975 – Head Wrestling Coach at Pacifica High School, won league title in only year as Head
Coach
– 14 Years – Head Wrestling Coach at El Dorado High School
Frank Gonzales (Cont.):
– 1 CIF State Championship – (1982) and 1 CIF State Runner-Up finish – (1986)
– 2 CIF Southern Section Championships, 1 CIF Southern Section Runner-Up finish
– 12 League Championships
– After El Dorado High School, coached for 9 years at Santa Ana College
– Honors – El Dorado High School Hall of Fame, Orange County Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame,
California Wrestling Hall of Fame, National Wrestling Hall of Fame
Larry James
– In 1965, began his teaching career at La Quinta High School
– In 1973, started the Boys Volleyball program at La Quinta High School
– 37 Years – Head Boys Volleyball Coach
– 13 League Championships
– Helped launch Boys Volleyball as an approved sport in the Garden Grove League
– 22 Years – Head Girls Volleyball Coach
– 8 League Championships
– In 1994, was selected as La Quinta High School Teacher of the Year
– Member, CIF Southern Section Volleyball Coaches Advisory Committee
– Volunteered at the volleyball venue for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles
Joanne Kellogg
– 12 Years – Head Girls Basketball Coach at Huntington Beach High School
– 2 CIF Southern Section Championships (1977 and 1978)
– Overall Record was 42-3 during those two championship years
– 4 League Championships
– In 1978 – Was selected as California State Basketball Coach of the Year
– Also served as Athletic Director at Huntington Beach High School
– In 1989 – Was selected as CIF Southern Section Athletic Director of the Year
– In 1994, inducted into the Southern California Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame
– Served on CIF Southern Section Athletic Directors Committee
– In the early 1970’s served on the committee that helped Girls Athletics transition from GAA activities to CIF sports
Ron LaRuffa
– Began at Boron High School – 2 years
– Colton High School – 1 year
– 12 years – Head Baseball Coach at Edison High School
– 16 Years – Head Baseball Coach at Fountain Valley High School
– 546 career wins- 2 consecutive CIF Southern Section Championships (Fountain Valley – 1994 and 1995)
– 2 CIF Southern Section Runner-Up finishes
– 11 Sunset League Championships (Edison and Fountain Valley combined)
– 5 Years – Served as Athletic Director at Fountain Valley High School
– 7 Years – Junior College Assistant Coach (Cypress College and Orange Coast College)
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Ray Moore, Vista Murrieta High: Athletic Director. Longtime organizer of the Loara Tournament.
