Hopi’s Rickey Baker Inducted Into The NFHS National Hall Of Fame

Hopi High School cross country coach Rickey Baker was inducted into the NFHS National Hall of Fame Thursday. Baker said at the induction press conference that when he was younger he thought the bus rides were over. “I took a bus from Arizona to go to school in Kansas and Oklahoma, so on my way home on the bus I said I’m never going ride a bus again, I’m going to fly or take a train,” says Baker. He adds; “for 36 years now I’ve been riding a bus every weekend with 30-something kids.” He says he cherishes that time with his athletes and the families along the way. Baker led the Bruins to an incredible 27 straight state championships from 1990 through 2016, then took home second place three more seasons after that. His 1999 team scored a record 15 points, which means the Bruins finished first through fifth place. Also inducted in the class with Baker is former NFL first round pick, quarterback Tim Couch, former Denver Nuggets legend Alex English and former Major League Baseball player Matt Holliday. Baker is the ninth former coach, or athlete, from Arizona to enter the national hall of fame.