Chandler-Gilbert Community College will induct Dr. Frank Ramirez into the college’s Athletics Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Saturday, February 19, 2022. The ceremony will be held in the Coyote Gym at the CGCC Pecos Campus between the women’s and men’s basketball games. The women’s game against Arizona Western College tips off at 2 p.m., with the induction ceremony following the conclusion of the game.
Dr. Ramirez began his career at the Maricopa Community Colleges as the Director of Human Resources in May 1985. He served in this role for 12 years before becoming the Dean of Continuing Education at CGCC in 1997.
While at CGCC, Dr. Ramirez oversaw the development of the college’s Williams Campus, as well as the construction of the Sun Lakes Education Center for Seniors and five additional buildings at the Pecos Campus.
Dr. Ramirez was instrumental in establishing athletic programs at CGCC. In 1998, CGCC’s athletics department was created with baseball, men’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, softball and women’s volleyball serving as the college’s first sports teams. Dr. Ramirez worked closely with the Maricopa Community Colleges District Athletic Council to approve and fund these athletics programs. He specifically selected these sports to increase student engagement and build school spirit.
“I have been at CGCC for more than 20 years and have heard a great deal about the beginning of the Coyotes,” said Russell Luce, CGCC Interim Athletic Director. “All of these stories include Dr. Ramirez, and they are all stories of hard work, dedication and perseverance. I am thankful to be a Coyote and want to personally thank Dr. Ramirez for his efforts in building a program that has helped so many student-athletes move forward. Hang a banner for all time in the Coyote Center.”
Dr. Ramirez also sought to formally create a full-time Athletic Director position for CGCC. At that time, Maricopa Community Colleges only supported part-time Athletic Director roles. Dr. Ramirez established a new classification for a full-time Athletic Director and worked to get the classification approved in order to hire a full-time Athletic Director.
CGCC became the first college within the Maricopa Community Colleges to hire a full-time Athletic Director. Soon after, other Maricopa Community Colleges colleges with athletic programs moved forward with hiring full-time Athletic Directors, positions that exist to this day.
“As the Dean of Continuing Education at CGCC, my roles were to oversee the maintenance of the college, coordinate the construction of the new buildings and to establish the athletic program,” said Dr. Ramirez. “With the assistance of Jeff Mason, we mapped out the athletic area and the best positions of the various sports. My goal was to establish sports that would develop school spirit, and we felt the selected sports would give CGCC a boost in student spirit. I feel very honored and humbled that the administration and athletic department would select me to be one of the first inductees to the Hall of Fame.”
The February 19 basketball games and induction ceremony are free to attend. The ceremony will be held between the women’s and men’s basketball games at approximately 3:30 p.m. Please note that masks must be worn in all CGCC buildings including the Coyote Gym.