Carl "Bill" Gentry (1926-2020) 

National High School Hall of Fame Football Coach

 

In almost four decades as an Albuquerque NM football head coach, Bill’s overall record was 305-102-5. His teams averaged winning eight games per year for 38 years. Bill's teams appeared in the state finals 10 times, winning the New Mexico state championship three times. In recognition of his extraordinary accomplishments, Coach Gentry was named National High School Football Coach of the Year in 1994 by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. He has also been inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame, the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame, and the New Mexico High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Honor.

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In 1963, Coach Gentry’s Highland Hornets football team won the New Mexico Class AA state championship. The Hornets were 11-0, with nine shutouts (!!!). His team presented Gentry with a 10kt gold Universal Geneve watch beautifully engraved, “Coach Carl Gentry ~ From ~ State Champions ~ 1963”. The dial was customized with a large “HHS” (Highland High School).