Former Amphi and Arizona standout running back and Olympic sprinter Michael Bates, accomplished Arizona swimming coach Frank Busch, Sabino graduate and ex-big-leaguer J.J. Hardy and former Wildcat distance runner George Young are among this year’s group that will be inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame.
The Class of 2025 honors were announced by the Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission (ASEC).
The others to be inducted include Phoenix Mercury and WNBA great Diana Taurasi, accomplished formation skydiver Craig Girard and former Yavapai Community College soccer coach Michael Pantalione.
The Crest Insurance Arizona Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be Thursday, April 9 at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available at AZsportsENT.com.
The 2025 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame inductees:
Michael Bates
He is one of the most accomplished multi-sport athletes in Arizona history, excelling at the
highest levels of football and track while representing the state on national and international stages. A standout at Amphi, Bates continued his success at Arizona, where his elite speed and versatility set him apart as one of the most dynamic athletes in program history.
Bates earned international acclaim at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in the 200-meter dash, before embarking on a distinguished NFL career spanning 10 seasons over 11 years.
Widely regarded as one of the premier return specialists of his era, he earned five Pro Bowl selections, five All-Pro honors, and was named to the NFL Hall of Fame’s 1990s All-Decade Team. Bates ranks among the league’s all-time leaders in kickoff returns and return yards, cementing his legacy as a game-changing force and a proud representative of Arizona athletic excellence.
Frank Busch
Busch is one of the most influential figures in the history of collegiate and international swimming.
He served as head coach of the men’s and women’s swimming programs at Arizona from 1989 to 2011, leading the Wildcats to sustained national prominence. During his tenure, Arizona teams finished in the national top five 25 times.
Busch led Arizona to both the men’s and women’s NCAA championships in 2008. His teams won 48 individual NCAA titles and 31 relay championships. He was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year 11 times and earned NCAA Coach of the Year honors six times.
From 2011 to 2017, Busch served as National Team Director for USA Swimming. In that role, he helped
oversee Team USA’s performances at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
Busch is a member of the American Swim Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
J.J. Hardy
Hardy, a Tucson native and standout at Sabino High School, enjoyed a 13-year Major League Baseball career from 2005 to 2017 with the Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, and Baltimore Orioles.
Hardy earned three Gold Glove Awards, a Silver Slugger Award, and two MLB All-Star selections, and from 2011 to 2013, he led all MLB shortstops in home runs. He played a key role in the Orioles’ return to postseason play in 2012.
He was a member of the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame and the Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor.
George Young
The late George Young is one of the most accomplished distance runners in American history and a trailblazer for Arizona athletics.
Young became the first U.S. runner to compete in four Olympic Games. He earned a bronze medal in the steeplechase at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, set six U.S. records, and established two indoor world records.
He later spent 25 years coaching at Central Arizona College, where his legacy is honored through the George Young Activity Center.
Diana Taurasi
Taurasi is widely regarded as the greatest player in the history of women’s basketball and one of the most accomplished athletes ever associated with Arizona. Over a 20-year WNBA career, she spent her entire professional tenure with the Phoenix Mercury, becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer.
A three-time WNBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, league MVP, and multiple-time All-Star, Taurasi is also the most decorated Olympic athlete in any team sport, winning six Olympic gold medals with the United States women’s national basketball team.
In 2025, she further cemented her legacy with the release of her documentary, Taurasi, which chronicles her extraordinary career and lasting impact on the game while offering an intimate look at her life on and off the court.
Craig Girard
Girard is widely recognized as the most accomplished competitive formation skydiver in the history of the sport. Born in Tempe, Girard is an eight-time world champion, earning eight World Championship gold medals in 4-way and 8-way formation skydiving.
A former member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights, he retired from military service in 1995 and that same year became a founding cornerstone of the legendary Arizona Airspeed team, where he remained for 16 years.
In 2006, Girard served as a key organizer of the historic 400-way world record formation. He continues to lead, coach, and compete at the highest level from Skydive Arizona in Eloy.
Michael Pantalione
Pantalione is one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of men’s intercollegiate soccer.
As the inaugural men’s soccer coach at Yavapai College, he built a nationally dominant program, defined by excellence, consistency, and class, compiling the highest winning percentage in collegiate soccer history (.893) with an all-time record of 636-63-30.
Over his career, Pantalione led his teams to 78 conference, region, district, and national championships, including seven national titles and is the only college soccer coach ever to average over 20 wins per season. As the first men’s soccer representative into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, Pantalione stands as a model of lifelong dedication and impact on athletes.
About the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame
The Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, operated by the Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission, preserves and celebrates Arizona’s sports legacy by recognizing individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to athletics in the state. Nominations are accepted annually beginning in August through a public nomination process. Nominees are evaluated through a formal review and voting process conducted by the Hall of Fame Trustee Board, with one additional inductee selected by public vote. Induction takes place at the annual Crest Insurance Group Arizona Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission
The Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission, (ASEC) is a non-profit organization created in 1988. The
commission collaborates with hundreds of partners to help fulfill the mission of bringing national and
international sporting events to the state; assisting in the promotion of existing events and Arizona sports
teams; providing volunteer recruitment and organization for large-scale sporting events; and developing youth sports programs. In 2009, it assumed oversight of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2012, the Grand Canyon State Games and the Lori Piestewa National Native American Games.
The ASEC was the founding organization and owner of the 2015 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. In 2025, the commission joined the Arizona Basketball Coaches Association (ABCA) as co-owner of the Section 7 Basketball Team Camp, one of the most prestigious boys and girls high school basketball recruiting events in the country. For more information on the commission, visit www.AZsportsENT.com.
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