SCOOBA, Miss. — Foley native John Santa Cruz, who spent 37 years working within Alabama's public education system as a coach as well as an emergency medical services administrator, was inducted into the East Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame (Oct. 14-15) on the Scooba campus. Santa Cruz and eight other new inductees were honored with a reception/banquet and recognized during halftime of Saturday afternoon's much-anticipated football game between the fourth-ranked EMCC Lions and top-ranked Northwest Mississippi Community College. The Lions also added a bonus celebration with a 51-32 football victory at Sullivan-Windham Field.

Santa Cruz has divided a successful career between coaching and emergency medical services in his home state of Alabama. Coached at Foley High School by fellow EMCC Sports Hall of Famer Lester Smith, he developed into a 1974 J.C. Grid-Wire All-American for coach Bill Buckner’s EMJC Lions before completing his collegiate career at Delta State.

While pursuing his initial career as a coach and social science teacher in Daphne and Foley, Santa Cruz earned his secondary education certification and later his paramedic certification. His professional experience in emergency medical services included stints at the University of South Alabama, Bishop State Community College and most recently at Faulkner State CC.

Following 37 years working within Alabama’s public education system, the 2015 recipient of the Chancellors Award of Excellence retired this past May and resides in Foley.

To read more on the other 2016 inductees or about East Mississippi Community College, visit Eastms.edu.