Watonga Grad Inducted Into Coaches HOF

Watonga native and 1982 graduate, Cliff Ice, son of Bill and Prissy Ice, was inducted into the Missouri Football Coaches Hall of Fame on Friday, Dec. 10. Coach Ice graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1987. He coached one year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College before moving to the St. Louis area. He coached for 11 years at Hazelwood Central High School serving as Offensive Coordinator for the 1996 Class 5 State Championship team. Cliff became head coach at Webster Groves High School in 1999. In 2001 he served as offensive coordinator of the professional indoor arena football team River City Renegades.

After 21 years at Webster Groves, he had a 151-82 record, including six semifinal appearances, coached in four State Championship games, and won two State Championship Titles to include the Class 5 State Championship in 2002 & 2009, state runner-up in 2003 & 2010, and state semi-finalist in 2005 & 2013. His Webster Groves teams collected eight Conference Championships.

Coach Ice was honored with numerous coach of the year awards around his state championship teams. He was coached by Milton Cooper at Watonga High School. His brother Brad Ice was on Watonga’s 1978 State Championship football team. Sister Lorna Beckloff (Ice) was a 1980 grad and still holds the “old” Two Rivers Conference Track and Field 60 yard hurdle record. Coach Ice is also a member of the Watonga High School Football Hall of Fame, Webster Groves High School Sports Hall of Fame, and the St. Louis Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Cliff is married to Malinda Randle, also a 1982 graduate from Watonga who starred in basketball and track. Malinda played collegiately at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva. Coach Ice is retired and he and Malinda reside in Webster Groves, Missouri.