Arizona’s high school sports community lost two well-respected coaches recently.

Former Carl Hayden head coach/assistant boys basketball coach Pete Tuccio and former Mesa High multi-sport coach Reed Peterson died on April 29 and April 30, respectively. From 1949-85, Peterson coached five different sports at Mesa High, including football, and finished with sub .500 records only twice during that span.

He served as one of legendary coach Mutt Ford’s assistants for five years before taking over Mesa High’s football program. Peterson’s combined junior varsity and varsity football record was 178-65-2, and Mesa reached fived title games, winning three, during his tenure.

He was inducted into the Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame in 1987. Peterson was 89.

Tuccio was Carl Hayden’s head coach before giving way to Hall of Famer Argie Rhymes in 1982. Tuccio continued to serve as a Carl Hayden assistant under Rhymes for a long period.

Tuccio, a native of Ohio, was 87. Carl Hayden is hosting a memorial celebration for Tuccio on Saturday at 1 p.m.  

Meldrum Mortuary in Mesa is hosting a visitation for Peterson on Wednesday from 6-8 p.m., according to azcentral.com. His services will be at Mesa Interstake Center on Thursday, beginning at 11 a.m.