No other Arizona high school football coach has won as many games (342) and state titles (8) at the big school level (4-6A) than Centennial High School’s Richard Taylor.

But he’ll be the first one to tell you that the countless young men he mentored is what mattered most. On Thursday, it was reported that Taylor is retiring as Centennial’s head coach.

Fittingly, he’ll do so as a champ. In his final game of his decorated 30-plus year career at Centennial, Taylor’s Coyotes defeated Mesa Mountain View 31-21 in the 6A title game in December.

The 2024 Coyotes became the first Arizona program to claim a football crown with a non-winning record (7-7). But after what Centennial overcame, including an 0-4 start, Taylor may have saved his best coaching job for last.

His 2024 squad encapsulated his career at the Peoria program he built from the ground up. Taylor’s ascension to greatness got off to a slow start, as it took him 12 years to win his first playoff game and 15 years to win his first ring.

But once he got on track, Centennial thrived, upending national powerhouses such as Florida’s St. Thomas Aquinas and Nevada’s Bishop Gorman along the way.

Taylor's Ohio football roots also helped cultivate some of the best line play and run schemes in Arizona’s high school football landscape during his tenure. With 59 shutouts since 2006, the Coyotes’ first championship campaign, Taylor’s defenses also proved their mettle.

He’ll be remembered as one of the best for a job well done.