Athletic Hall of Honor Inductees 2008

Jan Briggs

Coach Jan Briggs coached in Duncanville from 1975 until her retirement in 1998 and had many successful seasons, including a 1995 State Championship. Coach Briggs was named the Texas Girls Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1996, an award that highlighted a forty-year career coaching volleyball. During Coach Briggs’ coaching career, she was named District Coach of the Year multiple times, was named the Kellogg’s Coach of the Year in 1977 and 1978 and coached the National AAU Junior Olympic Volleyball Team in 1976. In addition to the 1995 state championship, Coach Briggs won a state championship in 1969 at Midland Lee High School and was a state runner-up once at Lee and twice at Richardson Berkner High School.

Jan’s on the court accomplishments put her in the upper echelon of volleyball coaches in the state of Texas, but her enduring legacy will be found in her players who went on to become teachers and coaches. Many of Jan’s former players continue to coach today and instill the life lessons that she taught to hundreds. 

Anita Campbell

The class act behind the scenes of Duncanville ISD Athletics for twenty-five years, Anita Campbell served as an assistant to three athletic directors and witnessed some of the greatest moments and athletes in Duncanville Athletic history. As the administrative assistant to the Athletic Director, Anita maintained and helped to grow all business operations during one of the most successful time periods of any school district Athletic Department in the nation. Many of Anita’s ideas and business practices are still in place today in the athletic office. Anita retired from Duncanville ISD in 2001. 

Rose Farmer

Coach Farmer is most remembered for serving as the Pantherettes coach for nine years; however, she also coached volleyball, tennis, and track at DHS. Coach Farmer has been called a great coach and an even greater individual. She is credited with laying the foundation for girls athletics in Duncanville that would pave the way for many successful championship seasons. 

Sara Hackerott

A ten-year coach in Duncanville ISD, Sara Hackerott served as head coach of the Pantherettes for five years and accumulated an astounding 173 win and 11 loss record. During Coach Hackerott’s five year run, the Pantherettes won the State Championship in 1997 with a 40-0 record, were the State Runners-Up in 1995 with a 38-1 record, and were Regional Semi-Finalists in 1994 and 1998, and Regional Quarterfinalists in 1996. Coach Hackerott’s 1997 team also finished #2 in USA Today’s National Ranking.

Coach Hackerott’s teams won district all five years she was head coach. Furthermore, the former assistant to Sandra Meadows won the SWAUU Sandra Meadows Tournament all five years as head coach. Nike named Sara as their High School All-American Coach in 1997.

Todd Ritchie

A 1990 graduate of Duncanville High School, Todd hit the game-winning home run to win the 1990 State 5A Baseball Championship. After graduation, Todd was selected in the first round of the MLB draft by the Minnesota Twins. Todd played eight years in the major league with the Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Todd’s high school accomplishments include being named All-State and an All-American in 1990. Todd also still holds many DHS baseball records.

Pem Smith

The ultimate booster for Duncanville ISD Athletics, Pem Smith was a fixture at virtually every DHS sporting event. Pem donated countless hours and money to support Duncanville ISD Athletics. Mr. Smith was instrumental in upgrading athletic facilities and programs and is credited with donating the outfield fence at DHS’s Panther Baseball Field. Mr. Smith was honored at the 1998 State Championship Football Banquet as “Duncanville Athletics’ Best Supporter.”