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Prospector Coach Binkley receives Jesse Parker Coach Foundation Legacy Award

Posted 12/13/22

Apache Junction High School’s Bruce Binkley was awarded the Jesse Parker Coach Foundation Legacy Award at a pep rally at the high school on Dec. 9. The head football coach was nominated for the …

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Neighbors

Prospector Coach Binkley receives Jesse Parker Coach Foundation Legacy Award

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Apache Junction High School’s Bruce Binkley was awarded the Jesse Parker Coach Foundation Legacy Award at a pep rally at the high school on Dec. 9. The head football coach was nominated for the honor by AJHS Principal Christopher Lineberry.

The award honors gifted and dedicated educators and coaches who inspire students to become outstanding members of society by: helping student athletes build lifelong skills and self-esteem through genuine achievement and perseverance and showing them how to accomplish more than they ever thought possible.

In a heartfelt nomination letter, Lineberry praised Coach Binkley’s challenges of taking over the team in 2020 during a pandemic and how he led the team to the playoffs both seasons since he came aboard. However, Dr. Lineberry went on to describe the real reason Binkley should be honored.

“All of what has happened on the field has been really incredible, but that is not what separates Coach Binkley from other coaches,” Dr. Lineberry wrote in his nomination letter. “What separates Coach Binkley from others is his character as a leader and a coach. The values he instills in the young people he works with every day are the values that I want my own children to subscribe to. Earlier this season we played a team in Southwestern Arizona. We defeated them soundly. After the game, I received the following email:

“I wanted to thank you for having such a wonderful group of football staff and kids that came to our campus this past Friday. Firstly, your football team was helpful and respectful to my band students as they were heading up to the field, wishing our kids a good show.

“Your coaching staff was respectful and courteous to our campus and treated our home the same way our band kids do. It’s refreshing and heartwarming to have mutual respect reciprocated to my students at our games. As far as my band and I are concerned, your team is always welcome back here; and, we’re excited to see your band this season out in the competition circuit.

Thank you for having such a great team and fantastic coaches”

Dr. Lineberry went on to describe other emails and communications he has received regarding Binkley, not only as a coach, but as a humanitarian who encourages strong leadership values in this team members. Numerous civic organizations have also praised the coach and players for their outstanding community service efforts.

Binkley believes in paying good deeds forward, something he learned from his former coaches.

“Joe Pannunzio and Tony Santy were my junior high football coaches and both had a lifelong effect on my Life,” said Binkley. “Joe is currently coaching the special teams with the Philadelphia Eagles and Tony is retired. I still talk to these guys at least once a week if not more. They have helped me get jobs, been part of my wedding party, helped me buy my first house. I could go on and on. So because of their influence on me I always wanted to make a difference in other peoples lives.”

In addition to his coaches, Binkley reflected on the lessons he learned from his dad.

“I was taught by my father ‘if it’s just about you it has zero value.’ I try to instill that in my players so they understand that life is not about them but about the impact they have on others.”

In his nomination letter, Lineberry quoted Binkley’s pep talk to the team after a win over Arcadia.

“Tonight was hard, it was difficult, and it was incredible. You came back from a 10-0 deficit and scored 42 points for the win in the second half. This was hard, but life is going to be harder. You are gonna get smacked right in the teeth over and over again, but if you fight, if you get up like you did tonight and don’t quit on each other and your family, you will always come out on top.”

The coach’s philosophy was reiterated during an interview after the Prospectors overcame great odds and defeated a very well-coached and talented Snowflake High School football team. A reporter motioned toward the scoreboard and asked Binkley how he felt.

“I just like how they competed,” Binkley said of his team’s overall performance. “I don’t get peace from the scoreboard, I never have and I never will. I get peace by how my football team acts and how they play. And if you compete your butt off, at the end of the day, you’re a winner.”

Following the award presentation, Apache Junction Unified School District Superintendent Heather Wallace joined Lineberry in her congratulations to Coach Binkley for the shining example he provides for AJUSD students, staff and the community.

AJHS emphasizes a well-rounded education where academics, sports and extracurricular activities allow students to grow scholastically, physically and emotionally. AJHS graduates have access to more scholarships per student than in most communities in the Valley and qualifying students have access to Promise for the Future to earn a tuition-free education at Central Arizona College.

Registration for all new students who wish to enroll in Apache Junction Unified School District schools are currently being accepted at all school locations. For more information about AJUSD or its schools or departments, visit ajusd.org.