Two Fairbanks men and an Anchorage woman are the finalists for the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame’s Joe Floyd Award for significant and lasting contribution to Alaska through sports.
Vying for the honor are martial arts teacher Charles Scott of Fairbanks, hockey coach and administrator Rob Proffitt of Fairbanks and high school coach and administrator Kathleen Navarre of Anchorage.
The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame will announce a winner April 5, at 3pm AST, on their Facebook Live in an awards show produced in partnership with Alaska’s News Source
The winners will be honored at the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame ceremony and banquet April 27, at the Anchorage Museum along with the induction of the Class of 2023 – Kodiak coaching legend Joe Floyd, Fairbanks football player Reggie Tongue and Palmer basketball player Jessica Moore in the individuals category; Kikkan Randall’s 2018 Olympic gold medal in the moments category and March Madness Alaska/state high school basketball championships in the event category.
Navarre is a two-time finalist for the award. During two decades at Dimond High and Kodiak High, she coached basketball, volleyball, flag football and track and guided multiple teams to region and state championships.
Kathleen Navarre
Navarre has been an athletic director and event director for numerous high school events. Since her retirement from the Anchorage School District, Navarre has stayed in the game by helping to organize events for the Alaska School Activities Association.
“From Kodiak to Anchorage and all points in between, prep sports happen because she is who she is,” her nomination reads. “A tireless advocate for everything good about scholastic sports, Kathleen has done it all.”
Rob Proffitt is the backbone of the Fairbanks Ice Dogs and a big reason why Alaska has three teams in the North American Hockey League.
Rob Proffitt
The Ice Dogs started in 1997 with Proffitt serving as coach and general manager. He stepped down from coaching in 2008 but remains the team’s general manager.
Fairbanks was Alaska’s first team to join the NAHL, and Proffitt helped the league expand its Alaska presence. He is credited with helping to save the Kenai River Brown Bears when the team faced disbandment due to financial woes, and with helping to establish the Anchorage Wolverines in more recent years.
Over the years Proffitt has helped prepare numerous Ice Dogs players for college hockey and minor league hockey while also working with youth teams in Fairbanks. “There isn’t anyone in Fairbanks who does as much for the sport of hockey as Rob Proffitt,” according to his team bio.
Charles Scott has been a force on the Fairbanks martial arts scene since the 1970s, influencing and mentoring thousands of people of all ages at his school of martial arts.
Dr. Charles Scott
Scott is the longtime head of the International Karate Association & College of Martial Arts — also known as Mr. Scott’s Dojo. One of the most traditional dojos in Alaska, the business celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.
Scott kept things going throughout the pandemic, creating a live virtual option for those who wanted to take classes from their homes.
Also nominated
- Roman Dial, Anchorage (wilderness adventurer)
- Rafael Echavarria, Anchorage (track coach)
- John Lindquist, Kodiak/rural Alaska (volleyball, basketball, swimming coach)
- Richard Shellhorn, Cordova (broadcaster, official)