Dr. Michael Hinojosa will be inducted into the fifth class of the Dallas ISD Athletic Hall of Fame along with six other impressive individuals who have made significant contributions to the district’s athletics programs. This year’s Hall of Fame nominees also include an Olympic swimming gold medalist, the winningest football coach at South Oak Cliff High School, the first female athletic coordinator in district history, a two-time consensus All-Southwest Conference quarterback, the winningest Black football coach in UIL history, and the winner of the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
In addition to Hinojosa, the individuals selected for enshrinement into the Dallas ISD Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022 are Jerry Heidenreich, Norman Jett, Elsie Moreno, Kevin Murray, Reginald Samples, and Spud Webb. The 2022 class will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during a virtual ceremony on Monday, December 5.
To be selected for the Hall of Fame, individuals must exemplify the highest standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct, and moral character. Inductees were selected for their striking accomplishments and undisputed impact while advancing school athletics. Their successes, however, are not limited to within Dallas ISD borders; they have reached recognition on local, state, national, and in some cases, international levels.
Meet the Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2022:
Jerry Heidenreich (1960-2002) was a 1968 graduate of Hillcrest High School. He excelled in the swimming pool and was a two-time state champion and high school All-American. Heidenreich attended SMU and was named an All-American all four years. He won 18 individual Southwest Conference titles before winning an NCAA championship in the 200-yard freestyle in 1972. Heidenreich qualified for the U.S. Olympic team at the Munich games, and took home two gold medals, one silver and one bronze. He broke five Olympic records and four world records in Munich. Heidenreich was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1987 and the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1992.
Michael Hinojosa, who is closing out his 13-year tenure as the superintendent of schools for Dallas ISD, enters the district’s Athletic Hall of Fame for his contributions as a student-athlete, coach, and administrator. Hinojosa played baseball and basketball at Sunset High School before graduating in 1975. He began his career as a teacher and a coach at W.H. Adamson High School, where he coached a variety of sports, including basketball. During his two terms as superintendent, Hinojosa guided Dallas ISD from 2005-2011 and again from 2015-2022. Under his leadership, the district experienced significant academic improvement and has been recognized for its innovative policies and programs. He led the historic passage of the largest bond in Texas history, which continues to bring significant improvements to district facilities.
Norman Jett (1933-2003) is a historical, iconic figure in the history of South Oak Cliff High School. He began his teaching and coaching career at the school in 1962 and became the Golden Bears head football coach and athletic coordinator in 1970. During his 12-year tenure as head coach, Jett led the Golden Bears to three district titles. He finished his career as the school’s all-time winningest coach with a record of 103 wins, 29 losses and five ties.
Elsie Moreno, a 1969 Kimball High School graduate, holds a legacy of spearheading the rise of girls athletics programs in Dallas ISD. In 1973, Moreno became Lincoln High School’s first girls basketball and volleyball coach. She also coached girls track & field, guiding the Tigers to a district championship in 1975. Her volleyball teams won three district titles and her soccer teams won district championships for 13 consecutive years from 1983-1995, with three of those teams reaching the regional finals. Moreno was the first female athletic coordinator at Bryan Adams and later served as assistant athletic director for the district from 1997-2004.
Kevin Murray is a 1982 graduate of North Dallas High School, where he played as the quarterback and center fielder for the Bulldogs. During his senior year, Murray was named the DFW Metroplex Offensive Player of the Year in football and was selected in the 11th round of the 1982 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. As a freshman at Texas A&M University, Murray was named the Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year and earned second-team all-conference honors. He guided Texas A&M to consecutive top-10 finishes after back-to-back appearances in the Cotton Bowl. In his final season, Murray broke several Texas A&M passing records and became the SWC’s all-time touchdown leader.
Reginald Samples, a 1973 graduate of South Oak Cliff High School, is the winningest Black football coach in Texas UIL history. Samples got his start in Dallas ISD as a teacher and assistant coach at James Madison High School in 1983. He landed his first head coaching position at Lincoln High School in 1990 and took the Tigers to the state championship game in 2004. Samples left to become the head coach at Skyline High School prior to the 2005 season. He also guided the Raiders to district championships in nine of his 10 seasons and led them to the state semifinals in 2011 and 2014. In 2015, Samples was appointed head coach at Duncanville High School, where he is currently employed. During the past seven seasons, Samples guided the Panthers to the playoffs six times, reaching the state championship game three times. Samples enters the 2022 season with 311 career victories.
Spud Webb, who graduated from Wilmer-Hutchins High School in 1981, stands only 5-feet-6, but overcame doubters who said he would never play basketball. In 1985, after playing college basketball at Midland College and North Carolina State University, Webb was selected in the fourth round of the NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. After being released by the Pistons, Webb was invited to a tryout with the Atlanta Hawks and made the opening roster. Webb is best known for his surprising win at the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest at Reunion Arena. Webb also played for the Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Orlando Magic. He is currently the president of basketball operations for the Texas Legends of the NBA G-League.
For more information, please visit the Dallas ISD Athletic Hall of Fame website.
