NIAA to Induct 12 for This Year's Hall of Fame
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NIAA to induct nine for this year’s Hall of Fame The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association, the non-profit governing body of high school athletics in the Silver State, will be inducting nine Southern Nevadans this year to its annual Nevada high school Hall of Fame. The individuals set to be inducted as the NIAA’s 21st class – Greg Anthony, Martin Barrett, Mark Coleman, Rodger Fairless, David Gerber, Tona Lytle, William O’Dea, Greg Spencer and Dean Thornock – have secured for themselves a special place in the history of Nevada high school athletics by the magnitude of their contributions to the youth of the Silver State. "The nine individuals we are inducting have contributed greatly to high school athletics in Nevada as an administrator, athlete, coach, contributor and/or official,” said Eddie Bonine, Executive Director of the NIAA. “They have made a positive impact on the young men and women of our state in some very important ways and have helped to make many of their dreams come true." The basic information: Who: The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA)... What: … will host the 21st annual NIAA Hall of Fame induction ceremony... When: ... Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, beginning at 11:00 a.m... Where: … on the Club Level of the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas (main site of the Nevada state high school boys & girls basketball tournaments)... Why: ... to honor former athletes, coaches, administrators/contributors, and officials who have contributed significantly to the NIAA, its member schools and the student- athletes of Nevada. How: The NIAA will conduct its banquet using a partial video format. Tickets: First-purchase basis at $35 per ticket. The ticket order form is contained on the last page of this release. The Class of 2013 features, generally, two administrators, two athletes, and five coaches. Chris Healy, a long-time Commissioner of Officials in the baseball chapter for the Northern Nevada Officials Association, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. ADMINISTRATORS – Mark Coleman (Clark County School District: Green Valley, Indian Springs & Silverado high schools, also CONTRIBUTOR for NIAA); Dean Thornock (White Pine County School District: Lund & White Pine). ATHLETES – Greg Anthony (basketball at Rancho High School, 1986); Marty Barrett (baseball at Rancho High School, 1976). COACHES – Rodger Fairless (baseball at Eldorado, Valley & Green Valley high schools); Dave Gerber (football / basketball at Bishop Gorman High School, football at Valley High School, also basketball OFFICIAL with SNOA); Tona Lytle (softball / volleyball at Chaparral High School); Mike O’Dea (cross country / track & field at Eldorado, Durango & Palo Verde high schools); Greg Spencer (football at Chaparral, Valley & Cimarron-Memorial high schools). Greg Anthony graduated from Rancho High School in 1986 with one Class 3A state basketball championship and multiple Southern Zone individual season scoring, assist and steal titles to his credit. He helped to lead UNLV to the 1990 NCAA Division I national basketball championship, capping off a three-time all-Big West Conference career in 1991 with the Runnin’ Rebels with another Final Four showing (after an initial collegiate season at Portland). Anthony was drafted by New York in the first round of the 1991 NBA Draft and went on to play for Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Chicago and Milwaukee before retiring in 2002. He has since worked as an NBA television analyst for ESPN, ABC and the YES Network, and a college basketball analyst for CBS. Marty Barrett graduated from Rancho High School in 1976 with three Class 3A state baseball championships, and multiple Southern Zone offensive production (batting- category) titles to his credit. The Arizona State alumnus was originally drafted by the California Angels in the 11th round of the 1977 MLB Amateur Draft and then by the New York Mets in the 3rd round of the 1978 amateur draft. He did not sign with either organization. Barrett did sign eventually, after passing as a first-round selection in 1978, with Boston (1st pick, first round, 1979 amateur draft – June secondary) and went on to enjoy a storied nine-year career with the Red Sox (1982-1990) He also played a closing stint with the San Diego Padres (1991). Mark Coleman contributed as an educator in the Clark County School District for 27 years. His involvements assumed many capacities, including elementary and secondary education teacher, special education facilitator, athletic coach, school administrator and principal. He worked with athletics as a coach, administrator in charge of activities, and principal at Bonanza (five years), Green Valley (five years), Indian Springs (three years) and Silverado high schools (six years), respectively. Coleman, a former NIAA Board member, was included in the first group of teachers selected for induction to the CCSD Education Hall of Fame (1987) based on his efforts to increase requirements for student eligibility. Rodger Fairless is one of the most successful coaches in NIAA history. His 20 baseball seasons combined at Eldorado (started in 1978), Valley and Green Valley (1991-1998) produced 493 wins (with just 80 losses) and 12 state championships. He led the Vikings to six Class 3A state titles in the 1980s, and then the Gators to six consecutive large- school enrollment classification state titles between 1993 and 1998. Fairless, who was inducted to the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and the National High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame in 2004, was named in 1999 as one of the “Top 50 Sports Figures of Nevada for the century by Sports Illustrated magazine. David Gerber served Southern Nevada’s youth as a head high school varsity football coach for 21 years, winning 106 regular season games, two state championships and seven zone titles. He led at Bishop Gorman from 1972 through 1979, compiling a 53-25- 1 record with state titles in 1974 and 1979. He headed Valley from 1982 through 1994, fostering a 53-45 mark with two Class 3A state runner-up placings (1984 and 1987). Gerber worked as Bishop Gorman’s Athletic Director from 1974-1979. The teacher of mathematics officiated basketball games at all levels (junior high school, high school and city leagues) while a member of the Southern Nevada Officials Association from 1972 through 1988. He was inducted to the Southern Nevada Coaches Hall of Fame in 1997. Tona Lytle taught and coached at Chaparral High School for 31 years, in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. She was one of the most successful girls volleyball and softball coaches in Southern Nevada high school history, and was a key figure when both sports became NIAA-championship sanctioned in 1975 and 1977, respectfully. She also coached cross country, basketball and track & field. The Cowboys’ softball field is named in her honor. She led Chaparral to the 1982 and 1984 Class 3A state girls volleyball titles, and the 1983 state softball championship in addition to multiple Southern Zone crowns. Mike O’Dea’s Eldorado, Durango and Palo Verde cross country and track & field teams won, in total, more than 90 percent of their dual meets, 10 region championships and seven state titles. He lead Durango to the school’s first state championship (1994, Class 3A boys cross country). O’Dea, who was one of the founding members of the Southern Nevada Track and Cross Country Coaches Association, has served on the NFHS National Cross Country and Track & Field Rules Committee and NIAA Policy Manual Committee. He was the first recipient of the NIAA’s Model Coach of the Year award in 2006. Mike’s 40-year career in education includes a membership in the Durango High School Hall of Fame. The late Greg Spencer, who passed away in January of 2009, was a Clark County School District teacher and coach for 30 years. He is most remembered for his successes as a football coach at Chaparral (1979-1987), Valley (1987-1991) and Cimarron-Memorial (1991-2009) high schools. His overall varsity head coaching resume includes 75 wins with three zone championships (1997-1999) and two state titles (1998 and 1999) while at Cimarron-Memorial. Spencer, who served for a time as the president of the Southern Nevada Football Coaches Association, has the C.M.H.S. football field named in his honor. He is also enshrined in the Southern Nevada Coaches Hall of Fame (2006). Dean Thornock coached football, boys and girls basketball, and baseball in the White Pine County School District from 1970 through 2008. He taught and coached at Lund High School from 1970 through 1976. He transferred to White Pine High School in the fall of 1976 and remained there until his retirement. He also coached cross country at White Pine for two seasons, and served as the school’s Athletic Director over the course of his last 13 years. Thornock earned numerous Coach of the Year accolades while at White Pine, leading his teams to a total of 11 league championships and two state titles (girls basketball and baseball, both in 2005). He was named the NADA’s Class 2A Athletic Director of the Year in 2003. RESERVATION CLOSURE IS: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 (subject to availability **… tickets will NOT be sold at the door) 2013 NIAA Hall of Fame Banquet WHAT: 2013 Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association’s Hall of Fame Luncheon & Induction Ceremony WHEN: Thursday, February 21 at 11:00 a.m. WHERE: Club Level of the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. TICKETS: Reserve for $35 / ticket by sending a check payable to the NIAA; 549 Court St.; Reno, NV 89501 To make your reservation(s) for the 2013 NIAA Hall of Fame Banquet, please complete the form below and mail it, along with a check ($35 per person) made payable to the NIAA, to the address listed on the form.