Athletes

Read Drexel, Football 1967 & 1968

Drexel came to SCC to play football for Coach Dwight Pool on the very first football team in 1967. He was from Gonzaga Prep High School where he was a three-year starter in both football and baseball. Drexel was named to the WAACC Football All Star First Team as an offensive end in both 1967 and 1968. He was a key member of the offensive line that helped lead the Spartans to the 1968 WAACC Football Championship and their only undefeated (8-0) season. Drexel continued his academic and football career at EWU in 1969 and 1970. After college, he began a long career as a travel agency owner.

Jim Gourley, Football 1967 & 1968

Gourley was selected for the Community College Hall of Fame after an outstanding football career at SCC in 1967 and 1968. Gourley came to SCC from Rainier Beach High School, where he was the Team Captain and Second Team All Metro in his senior year. He played for the legendary head coach Dwight Pool while at SCC and helped get the football program started in its first two years. Gourley was named as the Most Inspirational Player and was elected to the WAACC First Team as a defensive back in his sophomore season. He was an instrumental part of the defensive unit that led SCC to an undefeated 8-0 season as they won the 1968 WAACC football championship.

Ray Hare, Football 1967 & 1968

Ray Hare was recruited from Gonzaga Prep by Coach Dwight Pool in 1967 in the first year of the football program at Spokane Community College. He became a two-year starter for the Spartans as an offensive lineman. Hare was a standout player on the 1968 team that won the WAACC title with an undefeated 8-0 season. He was elected to the WAACC Second Team All Star team as a tackle in 1968 as the Spartans ended the year ranked as the sixth best team in the nation. Hare continued his football and academic career at the University of Montana where he helped lead them to an undefeated (10-0) season and the Big Sky team championship in 1969. He begun a 30-year career in coaching and teaching in Spokane public school system and finished as Athletic Director and Assistant Principal at Ferris High School. Hare also coached football for Bob Everson at SFCC from 1984 to 1986. He was selected to the CCS Hall of Fame in 2012 for his lifetime contributions in football and his teaching/coaching career.

Rick Larsen, Football 1967-1968

Larsen was a 1967 and 1968 SCC football player from Wapato High School where he earned seven varsity letters in football, basketball and tennis. He was named to the All Conference team in football and was awarded Most Valuable Athlete at the end of his senior year. He was coached by Dwight Pool at Spokane where he was an outstanding football center on the 1968 undefeated team that won the WAACC Championship. Larsen was selected as a center on the WAACC All Star First team in both his 1967 and 1968 seasons. He was also selected to the NJCAA All American team by JC Grid-Wire as a center in 1968. Larsen went on to star in football at Montana State University. He later returned to the Yakima area and developed a successful career in advertising, marketing and graphic design. Larsen has been selected for both the CCS and NWAACC Hall of Fame’s for 2012.

Tim Reese, Football 1967-1968

Reese was a 1967 and 1968 SFCC football player from Riverside High School, where he was selected as Team Captain and MVP in both football and basketball. He was coached by Dwight Pool (d) who was putting the first ever football team at SCC. He was picked as the most valuable defensive player on the SFCC team in 1968. Reese was also selected to the WAACC All Star First team as a defensive tackle at the end of the 1968 season. Reese also played basketball for the Spartans where he was named the team’s MVP in 1969. Tim went on to finish his football playing career at the University of Idaho, where he was selected Team Captain in his senior year. After his success with the Vandals, he pursued a career in agriculture, which culminated in managing the family farm near Elk, Washington. Reese has been selected for both the CCS and NWAACC Hall of Fame’s for 2012.

Ken Staninger, Football 1967 & 1968

Staninger was from Missoula Sentinel High School where he earned nine varsity letters in three sports and was the Montana First Team QB his senior year. He played Quarterback for Coach Dwight Pool and led the Spartans to their only undefeated season (8-0) in 1968. He was without question the best QB in the league and was named WAACC First Team All Star Quarterback at the end of the 1968 season. Staninger went on to Colorado State University and graduated in 1971 with a degree in Business Marketing. He formed a sports marketing company and has represented many NFL stars (including Super Bowl XXVI-MVP Mark Rypien) throughout his career.

Eric Dahl,  Track and Football 1968-69 

Eric came to SCC in 1968 from Sequoia HS in Redwood City, California. He played football for Coach Dwight Pool and ran track under Coach Mike Keller. Dahl was named to the 1968 WAACC First Team as a Defensive Back and was named Honorable Mention All American. In track, he won both the 100- and 220-yard dash as well as running a leg on the winning 440 relay team in the 1969 WAACC Track Championships. Dahl continued his academic and football career at WSU and then San Jose State where he was named to the All League Second Team. Dahl was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1972 NFL draft. After graduation, Dahl started a career in sales insurance and investments.

Larry Frank, Football 1968 & 1969

Larry Frank has been named to the Community College Hall of Fame because of his outstanding football career at SCC. Larry was one of the first of many early SCC-SFCC athletes to come to Spokane from St. Louis High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Frank was named First Team All State in both football and basketball after his senior year in high school. He was recruited to Spokane by Head Football Coach Dwight Pool and was a two-year starter and football star for the 1968 and 1969 Spartans. He was selected WAACC First Team All Star Offensive End and was named Team Captain in his sophomore season. Frank went on to the University of Hawaii where he started at wide receiver for two more years. He has been married to Colleen Frank for 41 years. Together, they have five children and seven grandchildren. Frank stayed in Hawaii and worked for American Airlines for 28 years.

Fred Hare, Football 1968 & 1969

Fred was from Gonzaga Prep HS where he was a three-year starter and was All City twice as a running back and linebacker. He was coached at SCC/SFCC by Dwight Pool and was a starting linebacker on the 1968 football team that was undefeated and won the first WAACC Football Championship. In 1968, he was selected as Honorable Mention on the WAACC Football All Star team and in 1969, he was named to the WAACC First Team as a linebacker. Hare was voted as the Most Inspirational Player and was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year in 1969. He started a career in construction management in the Seattle area after leaving SFCC.

Roger Kuula, Football 1968 & 1969

Kuula was from Central Valley High School in Spokane, where he was an outstanding high school football star. He came to Spokane Community College to play fullback for Head Coach Dwight Pool in 1968. His stellar play at fullback helped the Spartans to their undefeated season and the WAACC Championship. Kuula was named to the 1968 and the 1969 WAACC First Team All Star Team as a Fullback, one of the few players in league history to win back-to-back First Team honors. He continued his playing and academic career at Oregon State University.

Bernard Rembert, Football 1968 & 1969

Rembert was from Radford High School in Hawaii where he had been a great high school running back. He was recruited to Spokane to play for Head Coach Dwight Pool. He became one of the top running backs of all time at SFCC and held all the career rushing records for many years. Rembert scored 25 touchdowns for the Spartans and gained 1357 yards in his two seasons at the Falls. He was named to the WAACC All Star Second team in his sophomore year. Rembert continued his football career at the University of Idaho where he earned All Star status for the Vandals.

Art Berry, Football 1969-1970

Berry was from Gonzaga Prep High School where he was All City in both football and baseball. He was recruited to Spokane by head coach Dwight Pool (d) to play quarterback for the Spartans in 1969 and 1970. He was selected NWAACC Second Team All Star Quarterback in 1970. Berry holds seven all-time SFCC and four all-time NWAACC passing records established during his career at the Falls. Most notably, he passed for 1406 yards and 16 touchdowns in his two years at SFCC. Art continued his outstanding football career at Boise State University before earning his law degree and becoming an attorney in Boise. Berry has been selected for both the CCS and NWAACC halls of fame for 2012.

Steve Wallin, Football 1969 & 1970

Wallin came to SFCC to play football for Coach Dwight Pool from Edina HS in Minnesota, where he had made the All State football team. He was one of the top offensive lineman to ever play for the Spartans. In 1970, he was named to the NWAACC All Star First Team as an offensive tackle. Wallin was also selected as the SFCC Team Captain for 1970. He went from the Falls to the University of Washington where he became a two-year starter and was given the Big W Award. He was named Honorable Mention All Pac 8 at the end of his senior year with the Huskies. After graduation, Wallin started a 30+ year career with Ford Motor Company in the auto industry. He has now returned to Spokane and works as a real estate broker.

Bill Hodgson, Track and Field and Football 1969-70-71

Hodgson was a SFCC track and field and football athlete from Richland HS. Bill was outstanding in the javelin where he won the WAACC Title in 1970 with a meet record throw of 219’4”. He also threw the shot over 49’ to help Spokane win its first track title for Coach Mike Keller. In 1971, he threw the javelin 232’3” and the discus 151’ to finish second in both events in the WAACC championship meet. In addition, he put the shot 52’3” for third place to win the “Meet High Scorer” and lead Spokane to its second straight WAACC title. He also was an All-Conference football player for Coach Dwight Pool as Spokane won the WAACC Football Title. Hodgson went on to WSU where he competed in the shot, discus, javelin and the decathlon for the Cougars.

Dick Robertson, Football 1970 & 1971

Robertson came to SFCC from Rogers High School where he was named to both the baseball and football All City teams. He was a star running back for Head Coach Dwight Pool at SFCC in 1970 and 1971. Robertson was the leading scorer in the WAACC in 1971 and was named to the WAACC All Star First Team as a Running Back. He was the Spartans leading rusher and scorer and was voted as the team’s Most Inspirational Player. He continued his college career at Whitworth, where he was a two-year starter in football. After graduation, Robertson began a 30+ career as an elementary coach and teacher in Spokane.

Bob Smith, Football 1971 & 1972

Smith was from Pasco High School, where he was a star running back that was chosen for the All Big Nine All Star Team his senior year. He played linebacker and running back his freshman year for Coach Dwight Pool at SFCC before returning as a running back in his sophomore year. Smith was one of the best running backs of all time at SFCC, rushing for 882 yards and nine touchdowns in 1972. He was named to the NWAACC All Star First Team as a running back at the end of the 1972 season. He was elected Team Captain and was named Most Inspirational Player at the end of his sophomore year as well. Smith went on to the University of Montana where he won the “Terry Dillon Award” for being the Most Valuable Running Back for the Griz in 1974. He was nominated for the Big Sky Player of the Week twice for his efforts and tied the record for the longest touchdown run of all time at Montana. After graduation, he returned to the Tri Cities and took up a long time career as a firefighter.

Sam Read, Football & Track and Field 1971-72-73

Sam Read was from West Valley High School in Spokane where he earned All League honors in football, won the league championship in wrestling, and was the league champion in the shot put. He played football at SFCC for Coach Dwight Pool and competed in track for Coaches Mike Keller and Les Rurey. Read was a two-year starter in football and earned First Team NWAACC All Star honors as an offensive tackle. He also won the NWAACC Track and Field Championship in the shot in 1973. Read went on to the University of Idaho where he played football and track/field for the Vandals. He threw the discus and shot for Idaho and won the Big Sky championship in 1974. After graduation, Read has had a 30+ year career in teaching and coaching in eastern Washington.

Jim Hatch, Football 1972 & 1973

Hatch was from Cheney High School, where he earned All Border League honors in both his junior and senior years of football. He came to SFCC to play running back for Coach Dwight Pool in 1972. He was the team’s leading scorer in 1973 with seven touchdowns and 44 total points. Hatch continued his football and academic career at the University of Puget Sound where he earned the “Student/Athletes Award” for highest GPA of seniors on the 1975 football team. He returned to Spokane to earn his law degree from Gonzaga University in 1980. Hatch has been practicing law in the Spokane area for the past 30+ years.

Ray Conner, Football 1973 & 1974

Conner played football at Highline HS in Seattle where he was named to the All Conference Team as an offensive lineman. He played at SFCC in 1973 and 1974 and helped the Spartans win two consecutive NWAACC Football Championships. Conner was a key member of the defensive line both years and was selected to the NWAACC All Star First Team at the end of his sophomore season. He continued his academic and football career at Whitworth, where he was a two year starter. After college, Conner started a long career with the Boeing Corporation where he recently was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

John Miller, Football 1973 & 1974

Miller was from West Valley High School in Spokane, where he was a football and wrestling All Star performer. He played football at SFCC for Head Coach Dwight Pool in 1973 and 1974. His stellar defensive play led the Spartans to NWAACC Championships in both seasons.  Miller’s fumble recovery inside the 10-yard line stopped a potential game winning drive by Everett in the 1973 championship game. He continued his athletic and academic career at Whitworth where he became a two-year starter in football. After graduation he started a long career teaching, coaching, teaching and serving as Athletic Director in the Mead School District. Miller is now the Assistant Executive Director for the WIAA.

John Richardson, Football 1973 & 1974

Richardson was from Richland High School, where he was a three-year starter, was chosen Defensive Player of the Year, and was All Conference in 1972. He came to SFCC to play defense for Coach Dwight Pool and helped the Spartans to consecutive NWAACC Championships in 1973 and 1974. Richardson was selected the team’s Defensive Player of the Year in both his freshman and sophomore years. He was also selected as an NWAACC First Team All Star in 1974. He continued his football career at Whitworth, where he earned All Conference honors and was the team’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1976. After graduation, Richardson began a 30+ year career in teaching, coaching and counseling in the Tri Cities area.

Mark Vincent, Football 1973 & 1974

Vincent played at Pasco High School where he was an All Conference defensive end in both his junior and senior years. He became a two-year starter at defensive end for Coach Dwight Pool at SFCC in 1973 and 1974. His leadership on defense played a key role in taking the Spartans to the NWAACC Championship in both years. He was selected to the NWAACC First Team All Star team in both 1973 and 1974. After leaving SFCC Vincent became the owner of the Mark Vincent Construction Company in the Tri-Cities.

Jerry Walk, Football 1973 & 1974

Walk was from Kentridge High School, where he was named to the All Conference team as a guard and led Kentridge to the conference title in his senior year. He came to SFCC to play offensive guard for Coach Dwight Pool in 1973. His line play was instrumental in leading the Spartans to NWAACC Football Championships in both 1973 and 1974. He opened many of the holes that allowed running back Dave Komar to set an All Time SFCC rushing record of 1898 yards in those two years. Walk was named to the NWAACC First Team All Star Team as an offensive guard in 1974. After SFCC, he continued his education at WSU where he earned a mechanical engineering degree. He worked for Boeing for 20 years and now is with Parker Aerospace Company.

Dave Komar, Football 1973 & 1974

Komar was a 1973 and 1974 Spokane Falls CC football player who came to Spokane from Burlington High School in western Washington. In high school, he was chosen All League twice and in his senior year was first team All State and named to the All American Football Team. He was coached at the Falls by the legendary Dwight Pool (d), a member of the NWAACC Coaches Hall of Fame. Komar was selected for the NWAACC first team as an offensive halfback in both his 1973 and 1974 seasons. He was also selected to the NJCAA All American team as a running back in 1973. Komar suffered a knee injury midway through his sophomore year at SFCC that ended his football career. He returned to the Puget Sound area and became a successful sales manager in the logging industry. Komar has been selected for both the CCS and NWAACC Halls of Fame for 2012.

Dave Browning, Football 1974 & 1975

Browning was a 1974 and 1975 SFCC football player from Liberty HS in Spangle, Washington where he was a multi-sport All Star. He was coached at SFCC by both Dwight Pool (d) in 1974 and Bob Everson (d) in 1975. His line play in 1974 helped lead the Spartans to the NWAACC team title. Browning was selected as the 1975 SFCC football team’s Most Valuable Player as well as being named to the NWAACC All Star squad. He went on to the University of Washington, where he became the team captain and led them to a Rose Bowl victory in 1977. Browning was drafted by the NFL in the second round and played six seasons with the Oakland Raiders and helped lead them to victory in Super Bowl XV. After nine seasons of playing professional football, Browning retired from the NFL and returned to his hometown at Mica, Washington, where he manages and operates the family farm. Browning has been inducted into both the CCS and NWAACC Halls of Fame.

Dan Cozzetto, Football 1974 & 1975

Cozzetto came to SFCC from Gonzaga Prep High School, where he was team captain, and won All City honors as a linebacker in 1971. He joined the Spartans in 1974 and played tight end in their NWAACC Championship season. In 1975, he was awarded NWAACC First team honors as a tight end and was selected as team captain. He played his 1974 season for Coach Dwight Pool and in 1975 for Coach Bob Everson who was in his first season with the Spartans. Cozzetto went on the University of Idaho, where he won the Howie Warwick Award in 1978, and was named the team captain. After graduation, he went into college football coaching including stints at Arizona State, Idaho, Oregon State, Cal and the UW. He is currently an assistant football coach at the University of Washington.