Mike Chambers, Dana Pappas Named NMAA Hall of Fame Class of 2026

The New Mexico Activities Association on January 26 named Mike Chambers and Dana Pappas to the NMAA Hall of Fame Class of 2026, recognizing two careers that have touched school sports, officiating and student leadership across the state. The induction ceremony will be held March 12, 2026 at the Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid, with additional recognition during halftime of the evening game at The Pit.

Mike Chambers' career spans decades as an educator, coach and administrator, with service in multiple New Mexico school districts including Kirtland Central. Chambers also served in leadership roles on NMAA committees, shaping policies and competitions that affect how local schools schedule seasons, certify officials and stage postseason championships. For San Juan County, Chambers' induction highlights a hometown connection to statewide athletics governance: Kirtland Central athletes and families can point to a local figure whose work reached beyond the sideline to committee rooms where rules and playoff formats are debated.

Dana Pappas was honored for long service to officiating and for institutional contributions while at the NMAA; Pappas now works at the National Federation of State High School Associations. Pappas created the NMAA Student Leadership Advisory Council and contributed to organization of statewide championships. That portfolio links classroom leadership to the mechanics of competition and the training pipeline for officials, a combination that influences how games are run and how students learn leadership through athletics.

The dual inductions underscore broader trends in New Mexico high school sports: experienced administrators and former officials increasingly shape both policy and practice. Chambers' committee work and Pappas' move to the NFHS reflect a continuity of local influence at the state and national levels. For San Juan County, this continuity matters for youth programs, officiating quality at local contests, and the visibility of Kirtland Central and neighboring schools in championship conversations.

Beyond recognition, the March 12 ceremony and halftime tribute at The Pit provide moments for alumni, families and current students to celebrate careers that produced long-term investments in coaching standards and student leadership. Such events also concentrate civic attention on the role of high school athletics in community life, from volunteer coaches to school administrators balancing budgets and scheduling.

As the community prepares to follow the induction in March, residents can view Chambers' and Pappas' honors as both a celebration and a reminder: sustained commitment to coaching, officiating and leadership development pays dividends for local programs and helps keep New Mexico's high school athletics competitive and well governed.