Coach Youree (bottom row, 2nd to the left) poses in Mesa's 1984-1985 ACCAC Championship Team.
Coach Youree (bottom row, 2nd to the left) poses in Mesa's 1984-1985 ACCAC Championship Team.

Former MCC Men's Basketball Coach, Royce Youree, Inducted Into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame

Former Mesa Community College Head Men's Basketball Coach, Royce Youree, was inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame Thursday night, along with five other inductees.

In his time here at Mesa, Youree, as co-head coach with Tom Bennett, compiled a 126-37 record, helping the T-Birds earn three first place finishes, with three ACCAC championships.

"Coach Youree is more than a legend," said current men's basketball head coach Sam Ballard, "he and Coach Bennett made what junior college basketball is today."

Before his time at MCC, Youree helped East High become one of the most dominate high school basketball programs in the country.  East High won five state championships over his 13 year tenure, along with coaching the football and baseball teams.

Youree has also been inducted into the Arizona State Hall of Fame for both basketball and baseball.  After ASU, he played briefly with the San Francisco Giants organization.

Currently, Youree continues to help Coach Ballard and his staff with the current T-Birds basketball program.

"He (Youree) is my mentor," said Ballard, "he is still sharp as ever when it comes to basketball knowledge."