Kevin Adams (Coach: Galileo)
Kevin Adams was an outstanding football, basketball, and track coach for Galileo. Coach Adams was best known for his long-run as a football coach, heading the Lions from 1993 through 2008. He took Galileo football to eight straight Turkey Day/AAA/CIF San Francisco Section championship games in his first eight years as a coach, winning three titles. His Galileo Lion teams were always rated amongst the best in the Bay Area during his tenure. Coach Adams also spent a number of years as the lead assistant coach to his predecessor, the legendary Galileo coach George White. During the time when the two men worked together, Galileo won seven AAA championships. Kevin began his long teaching and coaching tenure at Galileo in 1981. Along with the knowledge he gained from Coach White, a good portion also came from his own stellar athletic abilities. He was a great athlete at Skyline College and San Francisco State which made him a welcome addition to the Galileo faculty and athletic staff. Before he became Galileo’s head football coach, Coach Adams took over as the girls’ varsity basketball coach in 1982 and had his team in the finals by 1984. He made Galileo’s girls a power during his ten-year run as the varsity coach. Coach Adams switched to boys’ basketball in 1993. Galileo hadn’t won an AAA title since 1950, however Coach Adams had the Lions in the championship game in three years. In fact, they were in three title games in his first five years and won the title in 1998. They won it again in 2005, his final year coaching the boys’ varsity squad. As of 2024, Galileo hasn’t won a hoops title since he stepped down. But Coach Adams most impressive work may have come in track. He became Galileo’s track coach in 1982 and is still coaching the team as of 2024. Coach Adams took a school that lacks a track and has produced not just good runners, but good high jumpers (a sport that is virtually impossible to coach without regular access to a track). Coach Adams produced jumpers by setting up temporary jump pits on the Galileo football field. In 1986, Coach Adams runners produced one of the City’s finest performances at the State track meet. The Lion runners medaled in the 4x100m and the 4x400m, and had an athlete in the 100 meter finals. Kevin Adams was an outstanding coach in three different sports. He is one of the best coaches and best teacher-coaches the City has ever seen.
Yonathan Asmerom (McAteer)
Yonathan Asmerom holds the distinction of seven first place finishes in the Academic Athletic Association All-City track distance events over a three year period, more than any other male distance runner in AAA history. As a sophomore in 1993, Yonathan won the 1600 and 3200m All-City runs. As a junior in 1994, Yonathan tripled, winning the 800m run, the 1600m run, and the 3200m run. In 1995, as a senior and concentrating on just the 800m and 1600m runs, Yonathan won the 800 meters for the second time and the 1600 meters for the third consecutive year. McAteer won the City Championship each year. In cross country, he placed first in the City Meet in 1993 as a junior. And as a senior he finished second to his brother Bolota just ahead of their teammate Jerome Morton in a tight 1-2-3 finish over the 3.1 mile course, with all three runners breaking the All-City course record. McAteer won the City Championship, and Yonathan went on to finish 23rd in a very strong Division 1 race at the State Meet in Fresno in November 1994.
Mike Carey (Riordan)
Mike Carey, a name synonymous with excellence, graced the fields of Archbishop Riordan High School as the starting Quarterback under the mentorship of Coach Bob Toledo (UC Riverside, UOP, Tulane, UCLA). Mike’s prowess led Riordan to consecutive WCAL Co-Championships in 1971 and 1972, showcasing his leadership, skill, and unmatched athleticism with some unforgettable come-from-behind victories. His stats speak volumes—24 rushing touchdowns in 1972 (28 total), 11 passing touchdowns total, and a remarkable 19 wins out of 23 games over those two WCAL championship seasons. In that 1972 season, Mike was named WCAL Player of the Year and Back of the Year and selected to the All-Central Coast Section team. He also played QB and DB for the North Shrine Football Team, which beat the South in the summer of ‘73. But Mike Carey wasn’t just a force on the field. His academic excellence shone bright, winning the Thom McAn Award for San Francisco’s Most Outstanding Scholar/Athlete. He was appointed San Francisco City Assessor for Youth in Government Day and was chosen to attend California Boys State. Post-Riordan, U.S.C. became his home, playing football while going to Engineering and Business schools. His fierce competitiveness and winning spirit turned fighting cancer into another win after he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1976. After finishing playing football in 1977, he joined the USC coaching staff as a Graduate Assistant for two plus years, working on John Robinson’s staff alongside two of San Francisco’s greats – Coach Gil Haskel and Coach Bob Toledo. In 1980, Mike was a first vote inductee into the Riordan Hall of Fame.
Phil Ferrigno (Coach: Mission, Lincoln)
Phil was an outstanding player at Riordan High School with dreams of becoming a coach. He started his coaching career at Riordan as an assistant in 1983. His journey included assistant coaching positions at: Lincoln, CCSF, & Sacred Heart Cathedral. In 2001, Phil became the head varsity coach at Mission, taking over a program that had been down, and started to build a new foundation. The following year, Phil moved over to Lincoln as a PE teacher and head varsity football coach where he started a record run of 10 AAA Championships in 14 appearances and three State Championships in 2018, 2019, and 2022! He has been an 8 time AAA Coach of the Year, Metro Coach of the Year, and Bay Area 49ers Coach of the Year.
David Henderson (Lincoln)
The ballad of David Henderson starts in the fall of 2005. After missing the first 5 games of the season, David began his quest to become one of the greatest running backs in San Francisco public school history joining the likes of Ollie Matson and O. J. Simpson. Lincoln had not won the Turkey Day Championship since 1979. But with fellow SFPH inductee Phil Ferrigno at the helm and David leading the way, the Mustangs began a historic run with a victory over Balboa and their first of 10 titles in 14 years. The following season was even better as Lincoln defeated Lowell for their second straight Turkey Day Championship, and David was named AAA Player of the Year. David entered his senior year with Lincoln as the league favorite, and he and the Mustangs backed up that ranking with a three-peat, besting Washington in the Turkey Day title game at Kezar. Once again David was voted all AAA Player of the Year capping off a historic high school career!