Arizona athletes

Mike & Mike: Former Arizona Athletes Increase Total to 37 Former Wildcats Hired as Head Coaches


Arizona grad Michael Lopez, son of former Arizona baseball coach Andy Lopez, and Wildcat point guard great Mike Bibby share similarities other than their first names.

They are both former Wildcats who were part of national championship teams. Now, they are head coaches, increasing the total to 37 former Arizona players who are head coaches (see list below).

Bibby was one of Lute Olson’s most valuable players as a freshman when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 national title. Michael Lopez was the captain of Arizona’s 2012 College World Series championship team, coached by his father.

Mike Bibby from when he played in the BIG3 this summer.
Former Arizona player Michael Lopez

Bibby, who coached his alma mater Phoenix Shadow Mountain to four straight state titles through last season, was hired today as the Phoenix Hillcrest Prep coach. Hillcrest includes five-star recruit Dalen Terry, a senior wing player who has committed to Arizona.

Michael Lopez was promoted to head coach at Howard Junior College at Big Springs (Texas) after serving as an assistant at the school for three years. The younger Lopez played for his dad at Arizona from 2009-12. He was captain of the 2012 team.

“He’s crazy to get into coaching,” Andy Lopez told me in jest Sunday. “I’m proud of him. He has his own program now at such a young age. He deserves it. He’s worked hard.”

Prior to becoming the head coach recently, Michael Lopez worked with Howard’s pitchers and was the recruiting coordinator. The school is reporting that in his three years there he has helped produce more than 40 Division I players.

Bibby takes over a program known for showcasing elite players for college coaches. Deandre Ayton played for Hillcrest.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity,” Bibby told The Arizona Republic. “Got some good young talented kids I get to work with.”

FORMER ARIZONA ATHLETES WHO ARE HEAD COACHES

List of head coaches of various sports and different levels who competed at Arizona. Compiled by AllSportsTucson.com.
NameUATeam SportStart
Adia Barnes1995-99ArizonaWomen's hoops2016
Heidi Bomberger-Bruschi1993-97Attleboro (MA) Feehan HSVolleyball 2020
Matt Brase2003-05Pallacanestro Varese (Italy)Men's hoops2022
Robert Bonillas1995-98Desert View HSFootball2012
Tod Brown1990-94New MexicoBaseball2022
Casey Candaele1979-82Buffalo (AAA) Blue JaysBaseball2021
Jackie Coburn2002-05Scottsdale Horizon HSSoftball2013
Clark Crist1977-80Pulaski (VA) River TurtlesBaseball2021
Debby Day1989-91Cal-LutheranSoftball2002
Shelley Duncan1999-2001Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA) YankeesBaseball2023
Byron Evans 1983-86South Mountain HSFootball2020
Terry Francona1977-80Cleveland IndiansMLB2013
Tanya Farhat-Villarreal1994-97West Bend (WI) Slinger HSSoftball2015
Brenda Frese1989-93MarylandWomen's hoops2002
Kristie Fox2004-07UNLVSoftball2017
Margo Geer2011-14AlabamaSwimming/Diving2020
Chip Hale 1984-87ArizonaBaseball 2022
Jason Hisey1988-91Canyon del Oro HSBaseball2019
Jack Howell1983Tri-City (A) AngelsBaseball2021
Krista Humphreys1993-96Corona (CA) Centennial HSSoftball2015
Mark Keel1979-82Silverdale (WA) Central Kitsap HSFootball2000
Steve Kerr1983-88Golden State WarriorsNBA2014
Andy Litten1999-03Scottsdale Horizon HSFootball2021
Hunter Long2013-15Douglas HSFootball2019
Caitlin Lowe2004-07Arizona Softball2022
Brandon Manumaleuna1997-00Lawndale (CA) Leuzinger HSFootball2020
Jennifer Martinez-Walls2008-09Abraham Baldwin (GA) JCSoftball2017
Craig McMillan1984-88Santa Rosa (CA) JCMen's hoops2000
Richard Mercado2002-04Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei HSBaseball2019
Leighton Milton1992-93Hollywood (CA) HSFootball2020
Edwin Mulitalo1995-98Southern VirginiaFootball2018
Ronnie Palmer2005-08Monterrey Peninsula (CA) JCFootball2020
Jose Portilla1996-97Heritage AcademyFootball2017
Rebekah Quiroz2002Pima CCSoftball2019
Colt Sedbrook2006-08Crown College (MN)Baseball2024
Jason Stewart1997-99Encinitas (CA) San Dieguito HSBoys hoops2014
Damon Stoudamire1992-95Georgia TechMen's hoops2023
Rafael Valenzuela2008-10Bowling Green (A) RaysBaseball2023


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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.

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