Dr. John D. Riggs, Father of Mesa athletics

 Pinpointing the exact start of intercollegiate sports at Mesa Community College (MCC) is challenging. A few individual track-and-field outings took place in the earliest years, but record-keeping was anything but meticulous. What is certain, however, is that Dr. John D. Riggs ignited the program.

A quick drive past the stadium on the campus's eastern edge reveals his legacy in bold letters: Riggs Stadium—a fitting tribute to MCC's first president, back when the school was still the Mesa Extension of Phoenix College.

A graduate of Mesa High School, Riggs became Executive Dean in 1963 and, two years later, the inaugural president of the newly minted Mesa Community College. He led the institution for nine years, leaving an imprint felt across every corner of campus, especially in athletics.

Riggs was an athlete himself and later taught and coached at Mesa High, Gila College (now Eastern Arizona College), and Phoenix College. His passion for sports ran deep: he attended as many home events as possible and even rode the football team bus to occasional road games.

Athletics at MCC officially launched in 1966 under the nickname "HoKams," honoring the ancient Hohokam tribe that first cultivated the Salt River Valley. According to available records:

• 1965-66: Men's basketball, track & field, and baseball began play (even though the stadium and gym weren't dedicated until 1969).

• 1966-67: Men's tennis was added.

• 1967: Football kicked off as the newest sport.

• 1973 & 1975: Women's volleyball and women's tennis became the first women's programs.

One fact remains beyond dispute: the robust athletic department MCC enjoys today traces directly back to the vision and drive of Dr. John D. Riggs.