Virg Stan, known as the foundering father of football at Sahuaro High School, passed away Saturday from health reasons at 94.
Stan was the first head football coach at Sahuaro beginning in 1968 and continuing through 1983. He was also a history teacher at Sahuaro through 1989.
The Cougars became a power under Stan four years into the start of the program, winning the AAA South title and advancing to the state semifinals in 1972.
Stan, who was inducted into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame, also led the Cougars to an 8-2 season in 1979, a year after the Cougars were 0-8-1. He is also in the Sahuaro Cougar Foundation Hall of Fame.
Former Sahuaro and Arizona standout receiver Jay Dobyns played for Stan at that time.
“A good man who dedicated himself to God, his family, friends, teams and teammates, the students he taught, and the players he coached,” Dobyns wrote in a social media post Sunday. “He put people first. I was lucky to have him a part of my life.”
Stan produced 15 all-state players, two All-Americans, and four players who reached the National Football League. He coached in the Arizona All-Star game in 1975 and 1980. His overall record at Sahuaro was 67-68-7.
Before joining Sahuaro, Virg was freshman and junior varsity football coach and assistant track coach at Tucson High.
He was an active volunteer with Pop Warner Football, junior high basketball, swimming meets and other functions.
Stan was also a long-time referee in Arizona. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he officiated junior high basketball games throughout Tucson and worked at Pop Warner Football clinics, teaching fundamentals to youth football players.
He continued his volunteer activities into the 1970s and 1980s at youth swim meets and was a key figure in fundraising that helped send a girls water polo team to North Carolina.
Stan and his family also appeared in television commercials for the Ed Sullivan Show and Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.
The last year has been difficult for Sahuaro with legendary figures passing away.
Don Bacon, a longtime softball assistant, mentor and volunteer at Sahuaro, and former Cougar wrestling coach Thomas Pierson passed away last year.
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