Santa Cruz Valley Union High School in Eloy, AZ and Coach Jay Denton go hand in hand. Anybody who has lived in Eloy from 1969-2005 knows of his coaching accomplishments. Jay grew up in Wyoming and graduated from Eastern Montana College. He started the wrestling program at Santa Crus H.S. in 1969 and finished his coaching career at Santa Cruz H.S. in 2005. He took a 10-yr hiatus (1978-1988) from teaching and coaching to work in the business sector. In Jay’s 24 years at Eloy, he’s coached 3 State Championship wrestling teams, 2 state-runner-up’s, 45 individual state champions, 95 state placers and had a career dual record of 312-89 for a 78%-win ratio. Along with coaching wrestling, Jay also coached football at Santa Cruz H.S. adding 2 State Championship and one runner-up football team to his coaching accolades. Jay finished his career at San Luis and Gila Ridge H.S. in Yuma from 2005-2013. Coach Denton has been rewarded for his coaching success by being elected to the Arizona Coaches Association Hall of Fame and now the Illustrious National Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame.