Kenneth “Ken” Edward Vargas passed away Aug. 1, 2024, at the age of 66. He was born in Flagstaff, AZ on Sept. 28, 1959, to Coach Richard “Dickie” and Stella Flores Vargas. He was the second son of six boys followed by a sister at number seven. At the age of one, Ken and the Vargas family moved back to Miami, AZ where his dad, Dickie, accepted a teaching position with the Miami Unified School District. This is the point where the Vargas coaching legacy began.
Ken attended Miami schools, was Homecoming King, and graduated from MHS in 1977. Throughout his high school years, Ken played varsity basketball for three years, varsity football for a year and a half and devoted most of his high school off-time preparing himself physically for the basketball season.
Ken knew he wanted to coach basketball since he was in the second grade. What a vision for a seven-year-old! He spent a lot of his youth in the gym with his father, and his mother, Stella, always made sure he got to the YMCA on time and ready to play youth basketball. You could often find Ken shooting baskets at all hours at the Miami Gardens outdoor court. His selftraining included strapping his ‘64 Ford to his shoulders and using it as resistance as he pulled the weight to increase his strength and speed.
Some accomplishments in football include being named to the1976 First Team All-Conference for the offensive roster; but Ken’s place was on the basketball court. His honors included a 1975 Conference Championship, 1975 State Runners-Up title, named to the Second Team All Conference in 1976, and in 1977, Ken was named to the First Team All-Conference.
Ken graduated from Northern Arizona University with degrees in Business Administration, Accounting, Secondary and Elementary Education, and minors in Math and Physical Education. Upon graduation in 1985, he accepted a junior high teaching position where he taught math and P.E. for 17 years at Lee Kornegay Junior High and was named Teacher of the Year in 1991. His lifelong dream of being a coach materialized as he became the seventh-grade basketball coach, winning 14 championships in 17 years.
Coach Vargas then moved to the high school, teaching math. He coached with his father for his first year and moved to the varsity position three years later. During his 17 years as head coach, Ken won several runners-up trophies for local tournaments, won five Conference Championships and was named Conference Coach of the Year four times. He was very humble but took pride in his “2015 Spirit of Cotton Fitzsimmons Award – for the Demonstration of the Best Qualities of a Coach” award.
He cared deeply for all his students, often coming in before school, during lunch and after school to tutor math. His place was in the classroom and that is where he felt he made a difference. Ken often spent time just visiting with students that needed some extra encouragement or just needed time to talk. In the quiet of his heart, he bought shoes, meals, clothes, and even took beds for athletes who did not have a bed to sleep in. Ken was an exemplary coworker, and because of his tenure, he was often called on for advice and guidance, always willing to help.
On Dec. 16, 2023, “Vandal Gym” was renamed to “Vargas Gymnasium” by the MHS Alumni Association and MUSD in honor of Coaches Dickie and Ken Vargas. These two Miami High graduates had 89 combined years of teaching and 71 years of coaching the Miami Vandal Basketball programs.
Ken is survived by his wife of 45 years, Evelyn; children, Aubrie Vargas-York (Ben), Ana Vargas-Tarango (Michael) and Andrew (Sydnie); grandchildren, Brooklyn and Braxtin Gameros, Isaiah and Aubrey Tarango, and Dierks, Eisley, Remy, and Timber Vargas; brothers, Lenny (Clydene), Richard, Steve (Angela) and Chris; and sisters-in-law, Penny Remodini and Becky Guadiana.
Services for Ken Vargas have been set for Friday, Aug. 16, at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church (OLBS) in Miami. Visitation begins at 9 a.m., Rosary at 10 a.m., with Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 10:30 p.m. Interment will take place at Pinal Mountain Cemetery in Central Heights and a luncheon to follow at OLBS.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the “Coach Kenny Vargas Athletic Food Fund.” Mail check to P.O. Box 2070, Miami, AZ 85539 OR stop by the MUSD District Office at 4739 E. Ragus Road, Miami, AZ OR “Venmo” with the memo, “Coach Kenny Vargas Athletic Food Fund” to @Aubrie-Vargas.