蜜柚直播

So when executives at Phoenix Suns Charities selected Utter as their 2019 Spirit of Cotton Award honoree, Rincon High athletic director Dave LePeau advised them that Utter might not buy into a grand and formal ceremony.

It would have to be a surprise. Under the guise of discussing improvements to the Rangers鈥� gymnasium鈥檚 bleachers, LePeau asked Utter if he would stop by the school at 11 Monday morning.

Typical of Utter鈥檚 dedication, he showed up at 10, long before a van from Desert Rose World Transportation arrived at Rincon High School with six people from the Phoenix Suns, including JoAnn Fitszimmons, widow of long-time Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons.

By the time all was in place, Rincon鈥檚 basketball team, cheerleaders, school officials and a group of Utter鈥檚 family and friends stood behind a closed door.

The Spirit of Cotton Award is the highest honor given in 蜜柚直播 high school basketball and when Utter finally walked through the door, he was appropriately overwhelmed.

鈥淚鈥檓 humbled,鈥� he said, sniffing away the tears again.

The Rincon athletic department was granted a gift of $10,000 by Suns Charities 鈥� perhaps that鈥檒l help with improvements to the aging bleachers 鈥� but the tribute to Utter鈥檚 exemplary career surpasses any monetary gift.

Only three coaches in 蜜柚直播 basketball history 鈥揝ahuaro鈥檚 boys coach Dick McConnell. 蜜柚直播鈥檚 Lute Olson and Sahuaro鈥檚 girls coach Steve Botkin 鈥� have coached more victories than Utter鈥檚 active total of 448.

But it wasn鈥檛 that number, 448, that led Phoenix Suns Charities to identify Utter as the 14th honoree of the Spirit of Cotton award.

鈥淚t was Rich鈥檚 impact in the community and the many lives he has touched,鈥� JoAnn Fitzsimmons said. 鈥淲e make sure it isn鈥檛 about wins and losses.鈥�

The previous 13 winners of the Spirit of Cotton Award have come from every corner of 蜜柚直播 prep basketball.

Now it is Rich Utter, whose 31 Rincon High boys basketball teams have not won a state championship 鈥� not yet, anyway 鈥� but keep turning out winners, on and off the court.

In fact, the man who spent four years behind the scenes putting Utter鈥檚 name before the Phoenix Suns Charities committee was one of his long-time rivals, Buena High basketball coach Dave Glasgow.

That鈥檚 when you know you鈥檙e doing more important things than diagramming a box-and-one zone or setting up an out-of-bounds play.

鈥淚 know what one coach can do for a young person鈥檚 life,鈥� said Rincon High principal Amy Swiderski Cislak, a former state softball championship coach at Canyon del Oro. 鈥淩ich is a father-figure and a great mentor, helping kids who struggle at school and at home. He鈥檚 one person I always call for advice.鈥�

In recent years, Utter鈥檚 winning percentage has been waylaid by open enrollment, club teams and by outright recruiting. Since Utter was promoted to Rincon鈥檚 head coaching position in 1989, he has been fortunate to coach just three Division I prospects.

Yet his overall record, 448-376, is a testament to his ability to do more with less.

鈥淟osses are every bit as important as wins in helping these young guys learn how to deal with life,鈥� he said. 鈥淧ractices are as important as games.鈥�

A four-sport letterman in upstate New York, Utter earned a degree from Slippery Rock University and transferred to 蜜柚直播 to earn a master鈥檚 degree and teaching certificate. His first job was at tiny Valley Union High School in Elfrida, near the Mexican border.

He spent the year living in the back room of the town鈥檚 only grocery store. His team, the Blue Devils, won two games.

If there is ever a basketball coaching story about humble beginnings, this is it.

When LePeau was hired as Rincon鈥檚 athletic director three years ago, he met Utter, who then had more than 400 career victories.

鈥淚n our first sitdown meeting, I asked coach Utter 鈥榳hat can I do for you?鈥欌�欌�� said LePeau. 鈥淗e gave me a wry smile and said 鈥榓 better question might be 鈥榳hat can I do for you.鈥� 鈥樷��

A year or so later LePeau opened an email from Buena鈥檚 Glasgow detailing the process of getting Utter selected as the Spirit of Cotton Award winner. Bingo.

On Monday, it all came together.