Time to recognize another successful Bonners Ferry High School Badger coach who is being inducted into the BFHS Athletic Hall of Fame in the Class of 2025. Tom Wofford was born in Wallace, Idaho, in 1951 to Charles (Chuck) Wofford and Marilyn Dooling Wofford. He started school in Mullan, Idaho, and attended elementary schools in New Mexico and Utah along the way.
Tom spent his sophomore year of high school in Asmara, Eritrea, Ethiopia, before returning to Mullan and graduating from Mullan High School in 1969 as a third generation MHS graduate.
Tom was involved in any sport he could be in, often with his father as the initial coach. He played football (almost every snap, offense and defense), basketball and ran track. Tom competed in the Ethiopian Secondary Schools National Track Championship in Adis Ababa in 1967.
Outside of school, he also played baseball; Pee-Wee, Little League, Babe Ruth, up through the Connie Mack State Championship in New Mexico in 1969.
Away from school and organized sports, skiing, hunting and fishing were likely on the schedule.
In 1969, Tom went to New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico, majoring in math and minoring in chemistry and education. He also amassed enough credits in philosophy and physical education for additional minors.
Tom played football in the NMHU Cowboy’s program. He stopped playing in his sophomore year and was asked to return to the program in subsequent years, offers he chose to decline.
At the quarter break in 1972 between winter and spring quarters, Tom married Eva Trujillo in El Rito, New Mexico. During the next two years he completed his schooling while working in a shoe store, for a cleaning service and in wildland fire fighting. Tom also student taught in chemistry and math at Robertson H.S. in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Graduating in 1973, Tom began his teaching career at West Las Vegas Jr. High as a ninth grade science teacher and wrestling coach. Having not wrestled in childhood, he learned the sport by wrestling with the New Mexico Highlands University Wrestling team as a “volunteer victim.”
Junior high wrestling weight classes began at 55 pounds and had five pound intervals for the first eight brackets, followed by intervals of 10 ten pounds for the remaining brackets. Because everybody got a match, those tournament days were marathons!
After two years at WLVJH, he applied further north, entertaining job offers in Montana, Alaska and Idaho before choosing Bonners Ferry.
Tom and Eva came to Bonners Ferry in the fall of 1975. He began coaching football in Doug Cox’s program with Bill Hayden and Lee Davis. His initial assignment at BFHS was teaching math and coaching football and basketball. During the first fall a switch moved him to assist wrestling with Bill Gee, and Bill Hayden took on the initial assistant basketball assignment with Don Trueblood.
In the next few years, Tom became the boys track coach as Coach Hayden stepped away. Coaching track with Judy High, Janis Tucker, Pete Glindeman, Tom Reifsnyder, Harry O’Dell, and many others remained enjoyable for decades.
Winning back to back state titles in track in ’90 and ’91 were highlights for sure, as was being honored as the Idaho State Track Coach of the Year.
In the early years of football he became head coach, albeit briefly, as he was removed from the program. Years later, he rejoined the football program under head coach Terry Beck. When Coach Beck left Bonners Ferry, Tom returned to the football head coaching position.
Tom’s teaching assignments varied across the math curriculum and even included speech for a few years. Eventually, he moved into an administrative position while simultaneously earning his administration masters from the University of Idaho.
For a few years, Tom juggled many hats as the BFHS assistant principal, athletic director, and head football and head track coach. He had to step away from football and became a volunteer track consultant when the school board adopted a no administrator as head coach policy.
After 22 years in Bonners Ferry, Tom and Eva moved to Salmon, Idaho. Tom was the assistant principal and athletic director at Salmon High School for three years. Then he moved to Lewiston, Idaho, and was the assistant principal at Lewiston High School for eight years, after which he retired after 35 years of teaching and coaching.
For the first few years of retirement he subbed as a math teacher (for long term leaves), monitored student teachers for the University of Idaho, chaperoned JV golfers around the state, and mowed the fairways at Bryden Canyon Golf Course.
Tom and Eva have two children; Kris (BFHS Class of ’94) and Kale (Salmon HS Class of ’99).
These days Tom enjoys playing golf, shooting at the gun range, and following local sports. You will still see him attending football games on Friday nights and trying to keep in the shade at track meets. Tom loves spending time with his two grandchildren, Maddie and Sam, which often means visiting them in Florida.
This year’s class will be guests of honor as the Badger football team takes Lakeside at 7 p.m. Friday, September 19, at Kenny Mendenhall Stadium, with introductions at half time.
The 2025 Hall of Fame Banquet and Ceremony will be held Saturday, November 15. Details and ticket information and event details are coming soon. Call (208) 610-8710, email travis.hinthorn@mail.bcsd101.com or contact any board member if you have questions or would like to donate to the Badger Hall of Fame.
When and where is the induction ceremony. I think I might like to attended this one. Coach Wofford was the greatest. I’d like to see him again….one lineman to another.