Coach Wahlstrom Inducted into Hall of Fame
Trivium Prep May 5, 2025 -
Derek Wahlstrom, the Athletic Director at Trivium Prep, was recently inducted into the 2025 Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame, a huge honor recognizing his exceptional career in coaching, teaching, and leadership. The Hall of Fame celebrates individuals who have dedicated their lives to serving Arizona’s youth through excellence, mentorship, and character. All qualities that Coach Wahlstrom has exemplified throughout his distinguished 30-year career.
Coach Wahlstrom’s journey through Arizona high school athletics has seen both tremendous success and deep personal connections. Over three decades, he served at different high schools, working with programs across the 1A to 6A levels. Although team achievements stand out, such as multiple quarterfinal appearances, a state baseball semifinal, and two state championships in football, it is the relationships he built with players, colleagues, and mentors that Coach Wahlstrom values most.
“For so many years I have looked up to and admired the coaches that have already been enshrined,” Coach Wahlstrom shared. “Now to have my name mentioned in the same context is something I never even dreamed about. I also recognize that this honor is truly based upon what others have done with and for me. To have someone call me ‘Coach’ is one of the highest compliments I have ever received and something I have never taken for granted.”
Throughout 23 seasons as a head coach, Wahlstrom led his teams to numerous region titles and state playoff appearances. In eight seasons as a head golf coach, his teams consistently finished in the top six at State, winning two State Championships and finishing as runner-up once. During this time, he was twice recognized as the 1A-3A Coach of the Year by the Arizona Coaches Association. As a football coach, Wahlstrom earned Region Coach of the Year honors five times and was named the Arizona Cardinals’ “Coach of the Week” three times, leading teams to the semifinals twice and to one State Championship game.
Beyond the sidelines, Coach Wahlstrom committed his time to mentoring fellow coaches and young athletes across Arizona. He served on the Arizona Coaches Association and Arizona Football Coaches Association boards, coached several All-Star teams, presented at local clinics, and held leadership roles as Vice President and President of the AzFCA.
“He has brought such a calming yet consistent impact to his campus. Coaches, players, and parents all know that they can count on Mr. Wahlstrom, and that he will do whatever is best for his students. He is amazing and so deserving of this award,” shared Jon Rickey, Arizona Network Director of Athletics for Great Hearts. “Derek has touched so many lives in football and track, and in his teaching career.”
Two of those lives he touched as a teacher and coach went on to serve as leaders for Great Hearts. “Derek Wahlstrom’s success is a testament to the staying power of devoted educators and coaches in Arizona high school athletics. When mentorship is such a scarce resource in youth sports, Coach Wahlstrom has been a highly sought-after leader,” shared Brandon Crowe, the Superintendent of Great Hearts Arizona and former student of Wahlstrom. “For so many of us long-time Arizonans, Great Hearts has been a place to land to live out our calling to pour into the future generations of our state’s leaders. We are fortunate to have Derek on our team! Congratulations, Coach!”
Former player and now Glendale Prep Headmaster Kyle Navarrette also reflected on Wahlstrom’s impact on his life. “Coach Wahlstrom was the perfect balance of modeling integrity and being playful while also living out and instilling a drive to compete. The goal was winning but more importantly the goal was winning with character. He carried himself in practice and games as the ultimate professional, preparing us to find the competitive edge, to not be satisfied with merely ‘playing hard.’ I very much hope that over the last two decades of coaching myself (and possibly in the future), I could be as wonderful a Godly model as a coach.”
Looking back on his career, Coach Wahlstrom remains grounded in gratitude. “I am truly humbled by this honor and appreciative of this distinction,” he said. “It is upon the shoulders of the coaches I worked alongside and the players who have been so amazing that this achievement is even possible.”
As the Great Hearts community celebrate his induction, Coach Wahlstrom’s career stands as a shining example of leadership, mentorship, and the lasting impact a dedicated coach and educator can have on the lives of young people.
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