CWU alum Randy Affholter named to state football coaching hall of fame

Randy Affholter didn’t always know where his path would lead, but Central Washington University helped him find the spark.

Affholter grew up with a love for sports, although it wasn’t until his time at Central that he started to see coaching as more than just a possibility.

“When I was at Central, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to get into coaching,” the 1988 CWU alumnus said. “I was able to go work at Morgan Middle School as an assistant coach, and helping there sparked my interest to get into what I am doing now. That is what got me going.”

That first job at Morgan Middle School in Ellensburg started back in 1987 when he was student at Central, launching what would become a remarkable career in coaching—one that is now being recognized at the highest level.

Affholter learned earlier this year that he is being inducted into the Washington State Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.

“It means a lot; it’s a great honor,” he said. “A lot of the guys that went in ahead of me are guys that I idolized like Tom Moore, Craig Beverlin, and Barry Reifel, who actually nominated me to get in.”

Affholter’s journey through football has always been a family story. He and his wife, Tara, both transferred from Walla Walla Community College to CWU to finish their degrees. Their son, Randle, followed in their footsteps and earned his CWU degree in 2012.

Affholter’s coaching résumé spans more than three decades, from early days coaching defensive backs and linebackers at Walla Walla Community College, where his teams played in two junior college bowl games, to leading the programs at East Valley, Toppenish, and Ellensburg high schools.

He spent 22 years at Ellensburg High School, where his teams won seven league titles and earned 11 playoff appearances, including four semifinal runs. From 2013 to 2016, the Bulldogs didn’t lose a single league game.

Now based in the Tri-Cities and preparing for his seventh season as head coach at Kennewick High School, Affholter will kick off his 32nd year as a head coach this fall.

To Affholter, football has always been a way to make a difference. His impact goes far beyond the game and has always been about more than football. It’s about shaping young people, building community, and creating a legacy rooted in purpose and heart.

Those who have played for him over the years say Affholter’s influence on them has extended far beyond the field.

“Coach Affholter taught me how to be accountable, how to maximize opportunity, and what hard work looked like,” said Nolan Teasley, one of his former players who is now the Assistant General Manager of the Seattle Seahawks. “I owe him a lot. He continues to be a foundational influence in my life, and I know I am not the only one that feels that way.”