Announcing the 2026 Athletics Hall of Honor Recipients
Mesquite ISD is proud to announce the 2026 Athletics Hall of Honor recipients! Each year, a selection committee comprised of past and present MISD staff selects inductees in the following categories: Individual Student-Athlete, Athletic Team, Coach and Legacy Member. Honorees are celebrated at a special, invite-only induction ceremony and recognized during halftime at an MISD football game in the fall. Details regarding this year’s Hall of Honor events are forthcoming.
Learn more about the Class of 2026 below:
Legacy Member
- Ross Hall, Mesquite High School Head Basketball Coach/Admin: Served 9 years as a head coach before moving into MISD administration, compiling a 436–264 record and contributing 61 years of service to the district
- Sara Wolfskill, Poteet High School/John Horn High School Licensed Athletic Trainer: Served 27 years in MISD as an athletic trainer; 1st woman inducted to SWATA (Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association) District 6 NATA (National Athletic Trainers’ Association) Hall of Fame
Coach
- Mark Elam, North Mesquite High School Head Football Coach: Led the resurgence of the NMHS football team, which went on to become the No. 1 team in the state and nation during the 1996 season
- Ted Nowell Jr., Poteet High School Baseball Coach: 373-174 record; Made the playoffs 12 of 15 years; 2x Area Coach of the Year, 8x District Coach of the Year, 6x District Champions, and 3x Regional Finalist
Individual Student-Athlete
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Kelsi Baker, John Horn High School Basketball, Softball, Track 2010: 3x District MVP in basketball; McDonald's All-American nominee; Played collegiately at Texas Tech University; Three-sport high school athlete; Competed in the UIL State Track Meet in shot put, earning the Principal’s Award.
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Eddie Phillips, Mesquite High School Football 1967: All-District quarterback in 1966; Starting quarterback for the University of Texas 1970-71; Cotton Bowl MVP in 1971 game vs Notre Dame
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Malik Jefferson, Poteet High School Football 2015: 2x THSCA (Texas High School Coaches Association) First Team All-State linebacker; Collegiate Butkus Award winner, selected as the nation's top high school linebacker in 2014; Played at the University of Texas; Went on to play five years in the NFL after being drafted in the third round by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Team
- 2006-07 Mesquite High School Boys Basketball Team: 29-6 State Semifinalist Basketball Team coached by MISD Hall of Honor inductee Gary Taylor
To stay updated on the latest Hall of Honor news, be sure to follow Mesquite ISD on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @mesquiteisdtx. MISD families and staff should also check their weekly newsletters for important information, and community members can join our mailing list here.