Wayne Binfield – Scottsbluff

Coach–Like the trace of the old Oregon Trail, the impact of this champion coach is still felt across Western Nebraska. For four decades of the twentieth century, his high school athletes left a lasting place in the record books. During the fall of the great crash of 1929, this then young coach inspired his Crawford football team to charge through all of their Class C opponents for an undefeated season and #1 ranking. In his subsequent tenure as Alliance football coach, the Bulldogs won state title ranking in both 1933 and 1941. In the category of coaching legend were his efforts as track & field coach at Scottsbluff High School. Under his tutelage, the swift Bearcats won four Class A titles at the state track meets of 1950, 1953, 1964 and 1968. In addition, he coached three state championships cross country teams in 1960, 1961 and 1967.  Altogether, 10 state titles were earned during his illustrious career. Binfield was a wily man, noted for down-home humor and successful tactics. You could expect a Binfield team to compete just as well in nasty spring weather as on a sunny day. He and fellow 1994 inductee, Dutch Zorn of Gothenburg, received a great honor from the Nebraska Coaches Association, which formed an award in their name (Binny & Dutch Award) that bestows laurels for not just winning but for being an all-around coach and person. Today an annual track meet hosted at Bearcat Stadium bears his name, bringing continuing reminders of this fine coach.