Arizona

Clyde Volz’s impact on Arizona track and field community runs deep

Published

11 months ago

November 12, 2024

Clyde Volz’s impact on Arizona track and field community runs deep

Clyde Volz, a high school track and field coach at Sunnyslope and Greenway high schools in Phoenix for more than 30 years, had the kind of impact on athletes that still is being felt today.

Volz, who won two Arizona Interscholastic Association state titles and created the Great Southwest Classic, passed away last month at the age of 85.

He coached many athletes during his time.

Tim O’Neil is one of the athletes who felt the most impact from his head coach. Volz took in O’Neil, a talented all-around sophomore track and field athlete at Sunnyslope who was living from couch to couch while in high school after a rough home life.

“He took me under his wing and made me realize there’s some bigger and better things out there for me,” said O’Neil.

O’Neil, who never had a family member graduate high school and planned to hang drywall for a career, had his life significantly changed by meeting Volz. Eventually, O’Neil morphed into one of the top-ranked athletes in the country for the high jump and went on to Mesa Community College before competing at the University of Nevada. O’Neil then competed professionally for Adidas after college.

But, like his mentor, O’Neil made his biggest impact as a coach.

It was O’Neil who convinced a young Devon Allen to first try out the hurdles while at Phoenix Brophy Prep. Allen, under the tutelage of O’Neil, became one of the greatest high school hurdlers Arizona has ever seen before taking the NCAA by storm at Oregon and making two Olympic teams in 2016 and 2020.

After a stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, Allen recently returned to the track as one of the athletes signed by Michael Johnson’s new professional track and field league, Grand Slam Track.

Allen isn’t the only Olympian that O’Neil has coached. This past summer, Freddie Crittenden III – who moved to Arizona specifically to be coached by O’Neil – made the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 110-meter hurdles. And it all started with O’Neil, which started with Volz.

“Clyde Volz saved my life,” O’Neil said. “I wouldn’t have been in college. I definitely wouldn’t be coaching track. I would have never met my wife. My life would be so drastically different without that guy, and that’s not an exaggeration. That’s the impact he made – he left the world in a better place for me.”

‘Pushing me out there’

It was in 1993 when Ron Smith was convinced by Volz to pick up a microphone while at the Glendale Invitational. Smith had announced some sporting events before, but it was just in his neighborhood near Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix.

Volz helped the upstart announcer’s name and phone number get out into the community and hired him to call meets.

Now, 31 years later, Smith has become the preeminent voice of the sport in the state.

“He was the one that started pushing me out there,” Smith said. “He’s the one who put me in bigger venues in front of much larger crowds, which then led other people asking me to come to their place. He’s the one who put me in those significant situations. I felt like all of a sudden, I was on the ‘inside.’”

Smith, who was a coach before he started announcing, was heavily influenced by Volz and his determination to track and field. So too was Ron Mann, whose own coaching career was started by Volz back in 1972.

Mann’s first coaching job came with Volz at Sunnyslope.

After leaving Sunnyslope, Mann eventually became the director of cross-country and track and field at Northern Arizona University, following stops at Thunderbird High and Mesa and Glendale community colleges. Mann’s teams made history in 1998, as NAU became the first school in conference history to win all four cross-country titles (team and individual) in the same year. He produced at least one Olympian in every summer Games from 1984 to 2004.

“I wouldn’t be where I was without Clyde Volz giving me that opportunity,” Mann said. “The modeling I got, he was representative of somebody who had ethics and morals, did everything the right way and had a vicious love for track and field. That formed my career from that point.”

Volz will best be remembered for his loyalty to his athletes. He used to film Super 8mm footage of his team working out, develop the film, cut it up and show it back to them – in the 1970s. Volz also used to take a school bus and drive it around the cinder track to compress the surface, making it firmer for his athletes.

On the track, Volz coached legendary in-state athletes, like Brian Muir (shot put), Doug Reynolds (discus) and Jeff Cannada (distance), to name a few. Volz was the founder of the Arizona State High School Decathlon and Heptathlon Championships. The Great Southwest Classic, his creation, became a premiere showcase for track and field talent.

“There’s no question that Clyde is paramount in his legacy the sport in Arizona,” Mann said. “There are very few that could even come close to equaling him in terms of what he did. He’s right at the very top in the way that he approached the sport and his complete dedication.”

Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, ASU and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@gannett.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.

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Arizona

Treacherous rescue in northern Arizona; accidental shooting kills AZ man | Nightly Roundup

Published

5 hours ago

October 22, 2025

Press Room

Treacherous rescue in northern Arizona; accidental shooting kills AZ man | Nightly Roundup

article

PHOENIX – Lightning prompts rescue efforts on northern Arizona mountain; accidental shooting leads to death of Arizona man; and more – here’s a look at some of your top stories on FOX10Phoenix.com for Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

1. Rescue efforts on northern Arizona mountain

What we know:

Officials with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office say one person was struck by lightning on Humphrey’s Peak, which is located north of Flagstaff, earlier today.

What we don’t know:

Officials say a second person may have been struck by lightning, and crews are working to get up the mountain to see if that is the case.

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2. 3 hospitalized following East Valley shooting

What we know:

Three people are in the hospital following a triple shooting late last night.

Big picture view:

Mesa Police say officers responded to the scene, which is located near Lindsay Road and University Drive, after someone reported seeing someone running after hearing gunshots in the area.

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3. Arizona man dies after gun incident

What we know:

An investigation is underway following an accidental shooting that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old man.

Dig deeper:

The incident, according to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, happened on Oct. 13 at a campground. The victim has been identified as Donald Anthony Stickrath.

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4. Violent store attack caught on camera

What we know:

The Glendale Police Department released a video of a man who it says committed a violent attack at a store and then stole money from the registers.

What’s next:

The suspect, identified as Gilbert Lara, is accused of kidnapping, armed robbery and aggravated assault.

Read More

5. Taking a look at Arizona’s real estate market

What we know:

Experts are weighing on whether it is currently the right time to buy real estate in the Grand Canyon State.

By the numbers:

It has been a rough three years for Arizona real estate. Prices are down nearly seven to eight percent since the peak in July 2022.

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A look at your weather for tomorrow

Get the Full Forecast

Nightly RoundupPhoenixNews

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Arizona

Arizona women’s health clinics sound alarm over new visa fees for foreign doctors

Published

23 hours ago

October 22, 2025

Press Room

Arizona women’s health clinics sound alarm over new visa fees for foreign doctors

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — As Arizona faces a growing shortage of OB-GYNs, a new federal policy could make it even harder for women to access care across the state.

Women’s health provider MomDoc, which operates clinics throughout Arizona, says it may now be forced to pay up to $100,000 per doctor to keep some of its physicians.

The change stems from new guidance under the Trump administration affecting the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire skilled foreign workers, including doctors in specialty occupations.

Under the revised policy, healthcare providers must now pay a substantial fee to continue sponsoring foreign-trained physicians. “It will impact access to care in Arizona and in other states that are barely making it today,” said Nick Goodman, CEO of MomDoc.

Currently in Arizona, fewer than 400 OB-GYNs deliver approximately 78,000 babies annually. According to Goodman, a major reason for the shortage is a decades-old freeze on funding for medical residency programs, which has prevented the training of enough new OB-GYNs in the U.S.

To fill the gap, MomDoc and other healthcare providers rely heavily on international doctors. Goodman says roughly 75% of their applicants are H-1B visa holders.

“Healthcare is already a very low-margin business,” Goodman said. “Adding a $100,000 fee makes it go from barely profitable to unprofitable.”

Experts warn the policy could further limit access to care, especially in rural or underserved areas where OB-GYN shortages are already severe.

However, there may be some relief. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently clarified that the fee does not apply to individuals who are already in the U.S. and are changing their visa status. Such as medical residents transitioning to full-time positions, as long as they have received USCIS approval.

In the meantime, clinics like MomDoc are pursuing fee exemptions, hoping the new rule won’t apply to their current physicians. But Goodman warns that unless the policy is revised or rescinded, it could have lasting consequences.

“When you’re talking about the number of OB-GYN’s practicing in the state going down, which is already happening prior to this fee, it makes it harder and harder for women in Arizona,” he said.

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Arizona

Winter is coming, Arizona. Here’s what NOAA, AccuWeather, almanac are predicting

Published

2 days ago

October 21, 2025

Press Room

Winter is coming, Arizona. Here’s what NOAA, AccuWeather, almanac are predicting

NOAA predicts a warm and dry winter for Arizona during the 2025-2026 season.
AccuWeather forecasts historically higher temperatures and a dry season, with potential for late-season rainfall in January.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac anticipates a warm winter but with rain and above-average mountain snow in some areas.

Winter starts Dec. 21, and as those colder months creep closer, Arizonans want to know what they should anticipate.

Before you start breaking out your sweaters and making your northern Arizona ski trip plans, you need to know what this winter has in store.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac, AccuWeather and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have released their predictions for what the following winter months should bring, including snowfall, rain and temperatures.

To best understand what Arizona weather should bring for this winter season, 2025 to 2026, here’s everything to know about the Old Farmer’s Almanac, AccuWeather and the NOAA predictions.

When is the first day of winter 2025?

Winter starts on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.

NOAA predicts winter will be dry and warm

NOAA predicts that most of Arizona will be 60-70% above normal temperatures for the months of November, and December. Although the southwest corner of Arizona shows it will be 40-50% above normal temperatures.

For the months of January, February and March, central and southern Arizona shows the temperature would be 40-50% above normal, while northern parts of Arizona would be 33-40% above normal temperatures.

For the months of November and December, precipitation for the western half of the state was expected to be 33-40% lower than usual according to NOAA. While the eastern part of Arizona similarly shows a 40-50% lower than normal precipitation prediction.

January, February, and March precipitation predictions remain similar, with the central and southern parts of Arizona having 40-50% lower-than-normal precipitation and the northern part predicted to have 33-40% lower-than-normal precipitation, according to NOAA.

This will make for a dry winter with little snow due to the lack of moisture in the air and warm temperatures.

AccuWeather predicts a warmer winter with late season rainfall

The Southwest’s temperatures should run historically higher than usual due to warmth in the Pacific Ocean. According to AccuWeather’s map, central and southern Arizona’s temperatures will run at about three degrees or more above average based on historical temperatures in this region.

The warmth from the Southwest will also create a drier-than-usual season with precipitation expected to be 50-74% lower than usual, making out-of-season wildfires possible, according to AccuWeather.

Yet, January will most likely bring rainfall for the Southwest. However, come February, Arizona will return to being warm and dry, potentially bringing near-record temperature highs for February.

Lower than average snow was also expected in northern Arizona, according to AccuWeather. However, an early burst of winter storms was expected, with a lull of snow in the mid-winter season, then a resurgence in the late months of winter.

Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts warm winter with rain, snow in mountains

Phoenix and Tucson should expect warmer winter weather. The coldest temperatures were expected mid-November to early January, according to the almanac, with rain and mountain snow hitting various areas.

High elevation areas should prepare for snow in early December and January.

Snowfall was predicted to be above average in eastern parts of the desert Southwest region such as Show Low, with the snowiest periods being early December to mid-January, according to the almanac.

Flagstaff also should expect above normal snowfall and temperatures, and slightly-above-normal precipitation. According to the almanac the snowiest periods were set for late January to late March.

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