North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame Announces 2026 Inductees, April 25 Banquet

Four figures with deep regional ties will be honored at the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame’s April 25 banquet at the Coeur d’Alene Resort: former Lewiston High and University of Idaho lineman Jake Scott, former UI player and longtime coach A.J. Christoff, and veteran officials Corky Fazio and Roger Stewart. The Hall of Fame revealed the 2026 class on March 5, and the organization says tickets for the banquet and induction ceremony will be available through the Hall of Fame’s website beginning Wednesday, March 25, at $41 per person, with reserved tables for eight priced at $400.

Jake Scott headlines the class with a career that runs from Lewiston High to the University of Idaho to the NFL. Local reporting notes Scott played 10 seasons in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts, marking him as one of the most nationally prominent athletes to come out of the region. Scott’s Lewiston and UI connections anchor the class in Kootenai County’s neighboring communities and give the banquet a hometown storyline likely to draw alumni and former teammates to Coeur d’Alene.

A.J. Christoff brings a coaching legacy to the inductees. Described in coverage as a former University of Idaho football player who built a 45-year coaching career, Christoff served as a defensive coordinator at several colleges over decades in the collegiate ranks. His inclusion spotlights the coaching pipeline from northern Idaho high schools and UI into broader college football programs.

The class recognition also highlights long-serving officials who helped keep local games running. Corky Fazio is credited with more than 40 years officiating high school football, basketball and baseball, as well as college baseball, and has documented ties to the Lewis-Clark Valley where he played and coached at Lewis-Clark State College. Roger Stewart likewise has more than 40 years as a football official across high school, college and professional levels, including 12 seasons in the Arena Football League. Those decades of service underline the Hall of Fame’s mission to honor significant contributions to athletics in northern Idaho.

The banquet program will include the North Idaho High School Awards and feature University of Idaho men’s basketball coach Alex Pribble as the event’s speaker, according to Hall of Fame notices. Organizers set the ceremony for Saturday, April 25 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort; ticketing logistics list single seats at $41 and tables of eight at $400, matching the Hall of Fame’s stated pricing for 2026. For context, prior-year reporting showed a $40 ticket price for the 2025 banquet, indicating a $1 increase this year.

The 2026 class brings a mix of professional achievement and local service to Kootenai County sports: a Lewiston-born Super Bowl winner, a 45-year college coach, and two officials with multi-decade resumes. Community members planning to attend should watch the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame’s website on March 25 for ticket sales and expect the induction and high school awards to take place at the Coeur d’Alene Resort on April 25.