John Francis Award Winners
John Francis was a legendary football coach at HMBHS in the late 1970’s. While attending Serra High School as a freshman, John rode his bicycle over the hill to San Mateo every day prior to the start of school so that he could participate in Freshman Football. Unfortunately, he was cut as a freshman and failed to make the team. Undaunted, he returned as a sophomore, made the Junior Varsity team and was subsequently awarded All-League honors. Building on his success, John repeated as an All-League player at the varsity level for the next two years. As an interesting sidebar, the coach who cut him as a freshman vowed that “I will never cut another kid again” and went on to a very successful career at another peninsula high school.
John went on to play college ball at Weber State and enjoyed an extremely successful career. Upon graduation, he returned to Half Moon Bay and joined the HMBHS football program as the Frosh-Soph head coach in 1976. Unfortunately, John succumbed to cancer and passed away less than two years later. John was loved by every life he touched and was respected for the way he coached; stressing work ethic in practice, integrity in game play, and sportsmanship always. The football field at HMBHS was dedicated to his memory in March, 1978.
The John Francis award is presented annually to the Cougar football player demonstrating over-achievment by unmatched work ethic, integrity, and sportsmanship. It is regarded as the highest football honor bestowed on a player.1978 Mike Seaton 1979 Phil Plath 1980 John Ivazes 1981 Trevor Warren 1982 Trevor Warren 1983 Rich Gorton 1984 Tom Baker 1985 Joe Saxsenmeier 1986 Max Williams 1987 Chad Letourneau
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1988 Rob Frediani 1989 Jake Ward 1990 Zeke Smith 1991 Matt Ballard 1992 J.J. Woodward 1993 Tom Wooden 1994 Scott Reid 1995 Garth Wilson 1996 Tony Catalini 1997 Ryan Murray |
1998 Graham Pickles 1999 Bryan McDevitt 2000 Cris Serano 2001 Adam Midose 2002 Brenton Geiser 2003 Riley Bateman 2004 Nick Colvin 2005 Willie Hillyard 2006 John Edhammer 2007 Charles Custer 2008 Max Marsall |
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Questions/Comments: Please call Coach Ballard, H.M.B.H.S., 650-712-7200 ext#1904 or email at ballardm@cabrillo.k12.ca.us