Recently retired Canadian High School Athletic Director Chris Koetting will be honored as the 201st inductee into the 65th Annual Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 11, at the Grand Plaza Amarillo Civic Center.

Canadian Wild Cat coach Koetting was the head coach of the greatest football dynasty in Texas Panhandle history. From 2010 to 2022, the team was 165-24, and won three state championships: in 2014, 2015, and 2020. The 2015 team is widely considered the greatest 2A team in state history.

With three state titles, Coach Koetting is tied with Blair Cherry of Amarillo High (1934-36) as the only county coach with three state championships. Koetting’s 49 playoff wins with the Wildcats are the most by any coach in Texas Panhandle history.

Coach Koetting would be one of five likely top-class men ever inducted into the Hall

Popularity. In addition, five special awards will be presented during the ceremony, as well as presentations to the coaches and athletes of the year in eleven sports.

Jon Mark Beilue, Charman of the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame, has issued a special invitation to ISD Canada faculty, administration and students to attend the June 11 ceremony, and to see this special coach and man honored in this way.

“I tell you this because I believe it will mean a lot to Coach Koetting to have the support of the school district where he is successful like no Texas Panhandle football coach has ever had,” Beilue said, adding, “One of the requirements for induction is retiring as a player or coach. The highest honor is getting a player or coach immediately after retirement. Joe Lombard of Canyon is one such example. Coach Koetting is another. Not many.”

Admission to the inauguration ceremony is free.