Coach Manny Ruiz coached his entire high school career in the mining towns of Superior and San Manuel. Coach Ruiz' San Manuel Miners were the State Runners-Up to Agua Fria in 1965 by a single basket. His Superior Panthers were the 1974 State Champions and the 1975 State Runners-Up. Rex Mirich, was one of his former players and he starred in the National Football League. Both Ruiz and Mirich were inducted into the San Manuel Athletic Hall of Fame on the same night. Coach Ruiz finished his career with 333 wins and 240 losses. He was the Arizona nominee for National Coach of the Year honors in 1985. Manny Ruiz is also in the Arizona Hispanic Hall of Fame and the Superior High School Athletic Hall of fame. The gymnasium at Superior High School now bears the Ruiz name.