Year Inducted: 2023
Nominated By: Martha Nogare (colleague)
Sports Competed In: Baseball, Basketball
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Coach
Casey King
High School:
Attended John Mall H.S. in Walsenburg (Class of 1990)...Played both basketball and baseball for the Panthers.
College:
Attended Mesa State College in Grand Junction, CO...Played baseball for the Mavericks.
Coaching Career:
PWHS Volleyball Coach:
● Started coaching career at Holly H.S. (1995-97)
● Spent two seasons as Head Basketball Coach and Assistant Baseball Coach.
● Spent one year each as the Volleyball Coach at Holly Jr. High and Holly H.S.
● Moved to Pueblo West High School (1997-current)
● Coached the Cyclones Volleyball program for 22 seasons
● PWHS Baseball Coach for four seasons (1997-00).
● Spent three years as an Asst. Girls Basketball Coach (1997-99).
● Led the Cyclones girls basketball team for one season as head coach (2000).
● Spent nine years as both a volunteer volleyball (2010-2018) and baseball (2013-2021) coach.
Achievements:
PWHS Volleyball Coach:
● Record: 426 - 119 (78% Win Percentage).
● Winningest coach in PWHS History.
● Ranked in the top 10 for most wins of all-time among volleyball coaches in Colorado.
● Captured first win for any sport at PWHS: Volleyball vs Florence H.S. (2000)
● Captured first League Championship for any sport at PWHS: Volleyball, 2000 South-Central League (S-CL) Champions.
● Became the first team sport at PWHS to attend and win a state tournament game.
● Longest serving coach at PWHS.
● Colorado 4A "Coach-of-the-Year" (2002).
● Four-time S-CL "Coach-of-the-Year" (award started in 2013): 2015, 2017, 2021, 2023.
● Won 19 South Central League Championships.
● Won five District Championships.
● Made 22 Regional Appearances.
● Won seven Regional Championships.
● Appeared 11 times in the Colorado State Volleyball Tournament.
● Two-time CHSCA All-State Coach (2002, 2019).
● CCGS All-State Coach (2021).
● Earned the CHSCA Level 4 Coaches Award in 2023 (for 360+ wins).
● Ranked in the top 8 for wins for all high school volleyball coaches in the state of Colorado.
● Coached 30 All-State athletes during his career
PWHS volleyball players coached by King that have played at the next level:
The following athletes were one or more of the following: all-state, national champions, college athletes): ·
Cara Dunsmoor, Caroline Ottino, Lauren Dunsmoor, Marie Ottino, Mallory Deenen, Brittany Mabb, Brittany Johnson, Kenzie Shippy, Rachel Ratzlaff, Allegra Shippy, Matti Dabovich, Jayde Vujich, Ariana Alberici, Santana Mestas, MaLeigha Menegatti, Taylor Hogan, Brilane Manchego, Emily Hanenberg, Olivia Sherman, Raegen Emery, Taylor Skoglund, Kate Gallery, Bella Adams, Kenzie King, Kacee Garcia, and Michaella Gallina.
Contributions:
● S-CL Volleyball All Conference Organizer/Leader: 20+ years.
● CHSAA Volleyball Committee Member: multiple years.
● CHSCA and CCGS Voting Member: 20+ years.
● PWHS Assistant Principal: three years.
● Cedar Ridge Elementary Principal: three years.
● Pueblo District #70 TOSA and Assessment Director: eight years.
● King helped open Pueblo West High School in 1997 and taught P.E., Weightlifting, Lifetime Sports, and Adaptive P.E. for 11 years (1997-2008).
● Spent two years as a physical education teacher at Skyview Middle School in Pueblo West.
● K-12 Physical Education Teacher at Holly, Colorado: two years (1995-1997).
● Earned "25 Years-of-Service-Award" from Pueblo County School District #70 in 2021.
Affiliations/Achievements:
● During the 2022 volleyball season, Coach King's team earned his 400th Varsity volleyball win.
● Earned Level 4 Achievement Award from CHSCA (2023).
Related Activities:
● Still coaching the PWHS volleyball program and is still a member of all listed coaches associations.
● Opened a hitting facility for local baseball teams and players to use since those facilities are limited in Pueblo.
Personal:
Casey was born in Walsenburg, CO...Has lived in Pueblo West for 26 years with his wife Renee, and their three kids, Colby, Kenzie and Logan.
