Two longtime coaches, influential in the growth and development of high school football in Richmond for many years, are among the 2016 induction class for the B.C. Football Hall of Fame.
Matt Phillips and Chris Beaton both entrered the Builder’s Category and are among 14 inducted.
Phillips made his way to Vancouver after graduating from Pepperdine College in Los Angeles and played one season for the B.C. Lions back in 1957.
His passion for teaching and football would have a huge influence in Richmond where helped launch programs at Steveston, Cambie and London. He also coached for three seasons at Palmer and made one year stops at McRoberts and Richmond High as well.
His past efforts have created opportunities for hundreds of players over the years and more than 20 of them have gone on to coach at the high school and community levels.
Phillips also worked for over 30 years as an official and is a past winner of the prestigious B.C. School Sports Honour Award.
On Tuesday, the City of Richmond announced he is among 17 new inductees to the Richmond Sports Wall of Fame
Beaton followed his playing career by returning to his former high school team at Vancouver College where he eventually served as head coach from 1970-72.
He moved onto the university ranks — working seven years as a defensive line coach for SFU before a two-year run at UBC as defensive coordnator.
He then returned to the Clan for a 23-year run as head coach. Another stint at UBC followed before Beaton stepped away from university coaching and volunteered at Hugh Boyd as defensive coach for the past number of years.
Phillips and Beaton now volunteer as assistant coaches at Earl Marriott Secondary in South Surrey.
The pair and the rest of the 2016 inductees were recognized at an induction ceremony at B.C. Place Stadium and introduced at halftime of a B.C. Lions game.
