Hall of Fame
Kansas City boasts a rich and enduring tradition in the realm of high school football. For over a century, the metropolitan area and its environs have consistently delivered some of the finest teams, athletes, and coaching talents in the sport.
In a tribute to this illustrious history, the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association (GKCFCA) has introduced a distinguished Hall of Fame, which has been inaugurated this season. The GKCFCA Hall of Fame is dedicated to commemorating the outstanding contributions of players, coaches, and individuals who have played a pivotal role in shaping the local football landscape. A new class of honorees will be celebrated each year.
This esteemed Hall of Fame will find its permanent residence at Arrowhead Stadium, with the names of inductees from each year proudly displayed on a dedicated exhibit.
Eligibility for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame is contingent on four distinct categories: Pioneer Coach, Coach, Player, and Associate. Presented below is the inaugural class of inductees into the GKCFCA Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame - 2015
Pioneer Coaches
- Ted Chittwood – Raytown High School
Chittwood was a pioneer of what many would say is the modern game of Kansas City High School Football. He graduated from Northeast High School in Kansas City in 1939 before enlisting in the military. After the war, he entered Missouri Valley College where he was a multi-sport star. After graduation, he moved to Raytown where he was hired as a teacher and head football coach in 1947. During his first 15 years, his teams combined for a 113-26-10 record. When he retired in 1981, he had a 224-100-13 mark. His teams would win five conference championships from 1947-1953, and he finished with 12 conference titles. Chittwood passed away in 2001.
- Al Davis – Rockhurst High School
Originally from Abilene, Kan. Davis came to Rockhurst in 1952 after graduating from Kansas State. He would coach the Hawklets until 1975. During his time Rockhurst had a 154-66-13 record that included several Catholic League titles. The Hawklets traveled around the state to find games in the 1950s and 60s playing some of the top programs in the nation. When Missouri began its state championship tournament in 1969, Rockhurst would finish second in 1969 and 1973 and win the title in 1971. In 1954 when traveling back from an out of town game the African-American players on the team were refused service in a restaurant. Coach Davis loaded his entire team back on the bus without any of them eating. Al Davis passed away in 2001.
Coaches
- Dave Bassore – Center/Olathe North
Bassore held many coaching positions in the Metro at both the high school and college level. He coached at Center and Olathe North along with his alma mater William Jewell College. His impact on the sport in the Kansas City area is immeasurable. There are countless players, coaches, and parents who felt the impact of his positive contribution to the sport of football. It has been said that he was a person who coached people not football. His tragic death in a car accident in 2006 left a hole in the Kansas City coaching community. The Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association honors head and assistant coaches each year in his name.
- Vic Bonuchi – Excelsior Springs High School
Bonuchi led Excelsior Springs to a 137-44-7 record in two stints as the Tigers’ head coach. He began his career in 1960 and stayed at Excelsior until 1973 when he left for his alma mater William Jewell College where he served as the defensive coordinator. He returned to the Tigers in 1989 where the program went to another level. Excelsior Springs won two state titles in 1994 and 1996. The Tigers also had five undefeated seasons and went 43 games without a loss. He also coached the Tigers to two state wrestling titles and the field at Excelsior Springs bears his name. Bonuchi currently resides in Excelsior Springs.
Associate
Bill Maas
Maas may be known to most as a former star defensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1980s and 90s. During that time, he also held football camps that featured some of the top high school coaches in the Metro. During one of those camps the discussion came for the need of a Kansas City coaches association. Maas was instrumental in the founding and, in fact, donated the original seed money to start the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association. Simply put, without his interest, there would not be a GKCFCA. In his post-football career, he is now the Director of Real Estate Services for Block and Company. He also does NFL analysis for 610 Sports and Time Warner Cable Sportschannel. Maas resides in Lee's Summit.
Player
Darren Sproles – Olathe North
Sproles is one of the most prolific high school players in the history of Kansas City. He ran for 2,031 yards as a junior and 2,485 yards and 49 touchdowns as a senior leading Olathe North to the state title in 2000. He won the Thomas Simone Award his senior year as the most outstanding football player in the Kansas City Metro. He would go on to Kansas State where he would finish with 4,979 yards and 45 TDs. His senior year he finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Sproles has spent the last decade in the NFL playing for the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, and Philadelphia Eagles. He holds the NFL record for most all-purpose yards in a season with 2,696 in 2011. Sproles currently resides in San Diego.
