To be awarded annually by the Southern California Football Coaches Association to coaches who for over a period of years have made outstanding contributions to the game of football in Southern California.
Clare Van Hoorebeck needs no introduction to anyone who follows Southern California football. His accomplishments as football coach at Anaheim High School are legendary. His contributions to our profession are monumental. Van was a charter member, past president and long time clinic director of SCFCA. He was the athletic director’s representative to the CIF SS Executive Council and a member of California Coaches Association Board of Directors. All who coach football in Southern California have been and will continue to be touched by Clare Van Hoorebeck.
Gib Dear was a local product having attended Alhambra High School, Muir Jr. College and UC Santa Barbara. He coached thirty- two years as an Assistant Coach at Garden Grove High School (1954-1955), Rancho Alamitos High School (1956-1958), Orange Coast (1989-1967) and Loara High School (1962-1985). An active member of the SCFCA for 24 years, Gib passed away in January 1986.
Gib Dear was an outstanding motivator, football technician, and teacher whose main concern was the welfare of his students. Gib never assumed the position Head Coach, but he always coached like it was “his team”, “his school”, and “his boys”.
CRITERIA FOR THIS AWARD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
This award was first awarded to Otto Plum for his outstanding service to the Southern California Football Coaches Association for his “leadership and dedication in promoting the spirit of High School Football” in Southern California. Otto was a long-time assistant coach in Southern California and an active SCFCA member since from 1958-2008. He served on the SCFCA Board for over thirty years (1976-2008). Upon his retirement from the Board, the SCFCA Board of Directors approved this award, named in his honor, to be awarded each year to a current or former SCFCA Board Member.
The Southern California Football Coaches Association is proud to present awards of merit and appreciation to members of the media who, over a period of time, have demonstrated through work, a friendship and a positive image for high school football. In 1998, the SCFCA Media Award was renamed in memory of our departed friend, Braven “Bud” Dyer, Jr. (1926-1997), the 1991 recipient of this award.
In 1998, SCFCA recognized former CIF Southern Section Commissioner, Mike Garrett, with its first Distinguished Service Award. In 2010, the SCFCA Board approved the renaming of the Distinguished Service Award to the “Herb Meyer Distinguished Service Award” in honor of the legendary Herb Meyer. Herb served as the Head Football Coach at Oceanside and El Camino High Schools from 1959 to 2003. Over his illustrious career, Herb garnered three hundred and thirty- eight victories, winning ten CIF Championships. His career has been decorated with countless awards. He was named the National Coach of the Year by the High School Coaches of America in 1975. In 1978, Herb was name the National District eight Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. In 2003, he received the All-American High School Coach Award from the All American Football Foundation. Herb was named the California State Coach of the Year three times: in 1978 by the National High School Coaches Association and the California Coaches Association; and in 1991 by CalHi Prep Sports. In 1995, Coach Meyer received the National Federation of High Schools Association’s Citation Award and the State CIF Distinguished Service Award. This is just a short list of awards and recognition that Coach Meyer has earned over his career. When he retired in 2003, Herb had won the most games in California.
The Lou Farrar Legacy Award recognizes a coach who has left a lasting legacy of success on the field, commitment to the coaching profession, and intimate connection to the greater school community. Named in honor of legendary Charter Oak High School Coach Lou Farrar who served the Charter Oak community for six decades as the Head Football Coach at Royal Oak and Charter Oak High Schools. A 1964 graduate of Charter Oak High School, Farrar began coaching in the Charter Oak Unified School District at Royal Oak High School in 1970. In 1985, he became the Head Coach at Charter Oak where he served until his death in 2019. Over his career at Charter Oak, “Big Lou” amassed 322 wins, ranking him in the top 10 of all high school football coaches in Southern California. His teams won 5 CIF titles, 19 league titles, and made the CIF playoffs in 26 straight seasons. He served as an active board member of SCFCA and the Pasadena Chapter of the National Football Foundation for over 30 years. The “Mayor of Charter Oak”, Farrar’s service extended beyond CO Football into the entire Charter Oak community.
2025 SCFCA Speakers
Speakers will be announced soon!