Ken Kurtz

Ken Kurtz came to the University of Arizona as freshman in 1963 from his high school in Aurora, CO. He had a very successful senior season playing baseball and had aspirations of playing professional baseball. He was counseled by a minor league scout of the St Louis Cardinals by the name of Kobe Jones that if he wanted to realize his dream of playing professional baseball it would be best served by going to college first.

He attended the University of Arizona graduating as part of the class of 1967 where he played freshman basketball and baseball. He also played varsity basketball & baseball in his sophomore year and played varsity baseball in his junior year.

In his professional baseball career: he signed with St Louis cardinals after junior season at the U of A in 1966 and played pro baseball for 6 years (all in the minor leagues).

In his officiating career he officiated high school and college basketball for 31years. He worked college basketball in the following conferences: West Coast Athletic Conferences: PAC 10, Big Sky Conference & Arizona Junior College Conference. Ken was assigned to work numerous state tournament games and was assigned to work 3 NIT tournament games as college official.

In his coaching career Ken coached varsity tennis, freshman basketball and varsity baseball at Santa Rita HS for 7 years. He also coached for several years in the COO little league district. He also served as board President for COO LL for 2 years.

His career awards include: All conference baseball District 7 Junior season in baseball, voted Intramural Athlete of the Year at U of A 1970, passed skills test to become one of a few men at the U of A to receive honorary athletic achievement award 1971. In the Tucson community he served as board president for 3 years for Northwest YMCA and fund raising to bring the NW YMCA to its present location.