This article is part of a series of historical profiles for Spirit Week 2025, celebrating the Spirit of Ricks and 25 years of BYU-Idaho.
For 21 years, Ricks College’s head football coach, Ron Haun, led the Vikings with a combination of grit, faith, and heart. Upon his passing, former players and colleagues remember him as a mentor who embodied the Spirit of Ricks and shaped generations of young men.
A Coach Inspired by the Spirit of Ricks
In 1979, Robert Stevenson took on Ron Haun as his new assistant coach for the Ricks College football team. Three years later, Haun took the helm as head coach. Over his two decades leading the program, it’s estimated that more than 2,300 players came through his ranks. Many went on to play or coach at universities and even in the NFL.
Haun was well-qualified to coach at a higher level than junior college football, but he chose to stay at Ricks. The night before an away game, one player, Jace Davis, asked him why he never left. After glancing at his players relaxing in their hotel rooms, Haun replied, “Where else could I go and sleep easy on Friday nights because I don’t have to worry where my players are at?”
Haun believed his players found something at Ricks they couldn’t get anywhere else. Marty Duffin, one of Haun’s former players, recalled: “I had bigger offers, actually, but Coach Haun told me, ‘If you come here, it will be like no other place.’ I played at a university where we won a national championship, but the environment Coach Haun created with his other coaches was such that it could not even hold a candle to what we had at Ricks College.”
Haun often spoke about his admiration for Thomas E. Ricks, the school’s namesake, whose vision and persistence inspired him. “Thomas Ricks was a special person,” Haun said earlier this year. “The foresight he had, and the stamina to go forward and keep pushing—that school came from his efforts.” In many ways, Haun carried that same spirit of perseverance.
Competitive and Compassionate
Known for his competitiveness, Haun held his players to high standards. One of his famous one-liners was, “Practice doesn't make perfect, but perfect practice perfects.”
Rick Dixon, one of his assistant coaches, remembered a conversation with a university leader who once told Haun, “Well, Ron, you can’t win all the time.” Haun’s quick reply was, “Well, then why do you play?”
His players learned discipline and preparation from him. “Coach Haun knew what the next opposing team was going to do, and he would coach on how to respond to them,” Davis said. “That's a great approach to life—you can't just show up; you've got to prepare [and] give your 100% effort to everything.”
Mike Uhrich, another former player, added, “Coach understood the value of perfect. In a world that accepts anything, Coach Haun did not. It wasn’t enough to win at Ricks; you had to be good.”
But Haun’s pursuit of excellence was always balanced with compassion. He remembered that perfection in this life isn’t always possible, and he found a balance between perfection and mercy.
Urich remembered, “He wanted perfection, but he knew we couldn’t achieve it, so he gave us a lot of mercy. Coach Haun gave me one shot, that one scholarship, and I gave him everything I had, for every play, until I couldn’t do it anymore.”
Building Men, Not Just Players
Haun’s compassion extended far beyond the field.
Duffin, who later served as an assistant coach under Haun, said, “I coached with him for five years, and during that time, the things that he would do to help his players were endless. He was loyal to his players and his coaches at a very high level. He didn't only care about what you did as a football player. He cared about the type of man you would become in life.”
For Luke Neal, that care changed his life. After briefly playing for Haun, Neal developed a close bond with him, often calling for advice. Several years later, Ron and Beverly Haun legally adopted Neal as their son.
“I always saw Coach Haun as a father figure, rather than a coach,” said Neal. “Meeting Coach Haun in 1986 has molded me into the man and the father that I am now. I wouldn’t be the coach or the person I am had it not been for my dad, Ron Haun.”
Teaching Lessons that Last
The lessons Haun taught on the field carried into his players’ lives. “One of the hardest days in my life was walking out of the locker room for the last time, Davis said. “But I knew I had something to build, and I took that into my kids’ lives. Football laid the foundation of becoming a husband, becoming a parent, and my work in the community—you always gave your best effort.”
In addition to training his team physically, Haun did what he could to help his players find their spiritual foundation. He had a testimony of missionary work and always encouraged his boys to serve missions. They held firesides and participated in everyday missionary work wherever the team traveled.
“It was one thing to see them in their football pads and everything,” said Haun, “but another to see them in the role as being a disciple of Christ. That was a unique thing about Ricks, that you got to see that growth and see that Spirit be present. It was real satisfying.”
His Message to Players
At the end of our February interview, we asked Coach Haun what he would say to his former players. He said:
"I’d just say thank you for the opportunity to cross paths with them and have the opportunity to develop a relationship with them. The things we experienced at Ricks bonded us together. I’m really proud of their success.
“That’s what we do as coaches, we help young men become better men, and to see the accomplishments of them after their playing days has been really rewarding. I just want to congratulate them for what they’ve done. It’s such a reward to see all the progress, to see how many have been stake presidents, bishops, and good community members, and it’s made it all worthwhile, the time we put in as players and coaches.
“Thank you to all those who made it what it was. I know that the people who attended those years were able to bring identity and pride to the school. … We looked forward to each school year, what it would bring, and it was just really special.”
A Legacy that Lives On
Coach Haun passed away on May 2, 2025. His influence continues through his family, his players, and the Spirit of Ricks that shaped his life’s work.
“He gave us opportunities to learn not only the game of football but also how to become a successful person,” Duffin said. “I’ll forever be grateful for everything that he did not only for me, but for my family and fellow teammates.”
Coach Haun’s impact continues to shape the university community today. His dedication to faith, discipline, and personal growth embodies the Spirit of Ricks that remains central to BYU-Idaho. The lessons he taught about hard work, integrity, and discipleship continue to inspire future generations to give their best and lift others along the way.