It's not easy to find a more selfless job or career than one spent coaching and teaching at the high school level. The annual public coaching stipend works out to pennies per hour, yet the pressure to win is constant. As the Valley has grown to the fifth largest metropolis in the country, much has evolved, including the dynamics of high school sports. Change is constant for athletes much like coaching turnover in nearly all major sports.

That's why Arizona is lucky to have some of the most dedicated and successful in the nation. Already this season we've seen milestones reached and all-time records broken, nearly all of which by coaches who've spent decades at the same school. Most notably and recent is Karen Self, who became the all-time winningest girls basketball coach in state history when she reached victory no. 833 a few weeks ago. Every win over a 33-year span at Seton Catholic.

Here are a few more still perservering with success:

TJ Hagen: Bleeding Purple, Living Gold

29 years coaching soccer and teaching at the same school requires far more than dedication, it takes someone who wants to. Hagen is a perfect example. "I've been lucky," says Hagen, a 1991 graduate of Mesa. "Getting to coach at Mesa High where I grew up has been special for me. It's given me a stronger sense of pride and accomplishment."

Hagen can reach victory 350 Thirsday night and it's a milestone he takes pride in. He realizes the endurance and work and consistency it requires, and he respects the few coaches in Arizona that have won more games. Salpointe coach Wolfgang Weber has guided the program since the early 1980's, winning 783 games and still going.

"I don't think people can appreciate that," Hagen says. "I know Tim Beck from Ironwood is closing in on 500 wins soon, and as far as I can tell or know, I'm fourth all time once I got to 338. So I'm proud and humbled at the same time."

A typical soccer season includes about 20 games give or take playoffs. In Hagen's case, he's averaged nearly 13 wins per season over his career, and given the way he runs his program, it's a another source of pride. "We've always done it with neighborhood kids," Hagen says proudly. "We've never attracted kids from other schools or districts, and we've always found a way to succeed with our kids."

The only thing missing from Hagen's resume is a state championship. He's come close on two occasions, but the manner in which he's built the Mesa program is what he hangs his hat on. There may be no better example than this season. After losing a semifinal heartbreaker in last year's 6A semifinal, Hagen lost 16 players from his program between the end of last season and beginning of this one. Many were varsity players who chose the club route, and one includes last year's leading scorer. Yet somehow, Mesa entered Tuesday night's match against Westwood with a 10-4-1 record and No. 8 ranking in the 6A power points. Winning with top players should be expected. Winning for 29 years with whoever shows up from the neighborhood requires hall of fame coaching.

"I'm proud of the way we've built the program up," Hagen admits. "I've had great support from the school administration, the kids and great coaches."

Hagen also admits he's looked into his future past running the Mesa program. Not surprisingly, his 'retirmement' plans include more soccer and perhaps more coaching.

"I've got three more years until I'm eligible to retire from teaching, so I'll be around but that next phase is coming up at some point. When that time comes, I wouldn't mind seeing my long time assistant Beto Renteria take over, he played for me and started coaching with me in 2013, but that's not totally up to me. Regardless, I'll always stay involved with soccer and always support this program. I wouldn't rule out post-retirement coaching at the younger levels like junior varsity and freshman. It's always rewarding to take kids who may not be the most talented or experienced, and help develop them. It's also important for the program." 

Candice Gonzales: 500 and counting

Mesquite girls basketball coach Candice Gonzales played for a legendary high school coach in Miner Webster at Gilbert High, where she played for state championship teams in 1991 and '92. Webster was Arizona's all-time winningest coach before coach Self eclipsed his record. Gonzales has followed the same model of consistency and perserverance. 

"When I first started out, I would use sets and plays we ran under coach Webster," Gonzales says. "But in the long run, he was such a great example of how to teach and coach without yelling and screaming. Hard work is necessary, but it's about teaching the game and improving constantly."

Now in her 27th season at Mesquite, Gonzales picked up victory 500 over the Christmas break. That's an average of 19 wins per season. She's led the Wildcats to five state championship appearances and one title in 2017, when Mesquite won 31 games.

2025: Open Season?

This season, Gonzales may have a team comparable to that of her 2017 squad. Mesquite plays in 4A, but its 20-1 record has the Wildcats at No. 3 in the Open division power point rankings. Mesquite's only loss came to one of Utah's top 6A teams (Skyridge), and they beat current Open top seed Salpointe by 14 points in a rematch of last year's 4A title game (won by Salpointe). 
The Wildcats have reached the Open round of 16 twice before, but this may be the year they could break through into the Open quarterfinals, at which point there is no turning back to the 4A field. Gonzales welcomes the challenge the Open division offers. 

"I've always wanted to play against the best," Gonzales says. "I wish we were playing in 6A and I've tried to lobby but they just won't let us. So I'd love to see these kids make a run in the Open. I've always felt that I can take any group of kids and turn them into winners."

The confidence and love for the game is what has motivated Gonzales as a coach for nearly three decades.

"Ever since the first time I picked up a basketball, I've had a tremendous passion for the game. Whether playing or coaching I just love it. Having the opportunity to teach and help young kids improve their skills and themselves is such a great reward, regardless of the season or wins or championships."

Gary Ernst: The Arizona Godfather

When the current school year began, Ernst had no idea he'd end up coaching the Gilbert varsity basketball team this year. With 47 varsity seasons, 943 wins, eight state championships and every conceivable record under his belt, Ernst hadn't ruled out coaching again under the right circumstances. Since his last year at Mountain View in 2022, Ernst had spent time coaching with the underclassmen teams at Gilbert, where his grandson Brady was playing.

Then last fall, circumstances arose, albeit of a difficult nature. Gilbert was suddenly in need of a varsity head coach. Although Brady had transferred back to play at Mountain View, Ernst was still still helping at Gilbert. It wasn't the ideal situation, but Ernst was the ideal option for the Tigers program. He knew that and decided to step up in spite of turbulence in the wake of previous head coach Jay Cesario's unexpected departure.

"When I first went to Gilbert it was really just to help out Jay and the other coaches and to be able to close to my grandson and help with his development as well as the younger kids," Ernst says of his original intentions at Gilbert. "I never anticipated this scenario. I have to admit it was stressful in the beginning. As a head coach you're in charge of an entire program. And despite being around the last couple years, I wasn't totally familiar with how (Cesario) operated his offensive sets and schemes. So there was a learning curve for all of us in the beginning.

Gilbert also lost a player who may have evolved into its leading scorer in freshman Kyle Speed. After Cesario's departure, Speed soon transferred to ALA Gilbert North, where he didn't have to sit out any games because of Gilbert's sudden coaching vacancy. Speed has helped ALA to a 14-6 record and is averaging a double-double for the season, among team leaders at 12 points a game while averaging 13 rebounds a clip, double than the next closest teammate.

But Ernst dug in an plugged away as he's always done. It hasn't been easy, but the Tigers are 9-10 entering their contest against rival Highland Tuesday night. Ernst picked up his 950th career victory a few weeks ago, and Gilbert got its signature win of the season last Friday at Red Mountain, where the Tigers beat the heavily favored Mountain Lions 57-47.

"That was a great effort by our kids and one of those games that makes it all worth it," Ernst said of the Red Mountain win.

The question still begs, what keeps Ernst motivated? Now 76 years young, he retired as a teacher in 2008 and his career win total (952) may likely never be reached. With his grandson at Mountain View, he wasn't able to watch him play until this season until early last week. So what keeps him going?

"It's what I like to do," Ernst says. 

Gary Ernst coached 38 seasons at Mountain View. In December of 2023, the court was dedicated in his name. (Ben Stapley/AZPreps365)

The simple answer is not surprising. Despite his longevity and success, he's a simple man who's always enjoyed coaching basketball, although he was never afraid of risks. After building Chandler into a power during his first six years of coaching, he left for a job at a smaller school in New Mexico in 1981, near his hometown of Farmington, where he was coached for two seasons by Sam Duane Sr., another Arizona coaching icon. But at the end of the day, Ernst admits full retirement has never been in his nature.

"I get bored pretty easily. I've played golf and it's not that exciting for me," he says with a laugh. "I've always enjoyed being around the kids. They help keep me young and in touch with real life in a lot of ways, and I mean that. And it's always been enjoyable to help kids develop and get the most out of my teams."

1,000 wins: A new goal?

According to MaxPreps, there are 31 basketball coaches in history with 1,000 or more career wins. With 952, it's another milestone seemingly in reach for Ernst with a few more seasons. But does it matter to him?

"To be honest I've thought about it because if had stayed at Mountain View I'd be pretty close to 1,000 wins by now and I would've strived for that," Ernst says. "But my focus after this season is being able to watch Brady play his senior year, which is something I couldn't do staying here or coaching anywhere else."

In all likelihood, the 2024-'25 season will mark his last as a varsity head coach. He'll probably be offered a lifetime key to the Mountain View gym where the court is named after him, but regardess, Ernst's career and philosophy is similar to other legendary Arizona coaches, and much like Karen Self said after breaking the state record: "It's not about one night or one game or the milestones, it's about the journey and the kids."