Todd Fazio
Head Boys Basketball Coach
Todd Fazio enters his 29th year in coaching and his 23rd year as a head coach, compiling an outstanding career record of 369–212. Now in his 9th season leading Highland High School’s basketball program, Coach Fazio has established himself as the winningest coach in school history with 148 victories.
Under his leadership, Highland Basketball has emerged as one of Arizona’s premier programs. Fazio has been named Central Region Coach of the Year (2021, 2023, 2024) and Fiesta Region Coach of the Year (2025, 2026).
Highland Basketball Under Coach Fazio
2018–19: 8–18 (4–6 region)
2019–20: 17–9, 6A State Tournament 2nd Round (7–3 region)
2020–21: 13–5, 6A State Tournament 2nd Round (7–3 region)
2021–22: 19–7, 6A State Tournament 2nd Round (7–3 region)
2022–23: 29–3, 6A State Champions (10–0 region), Central Region Champions
2023–24: 21–8, 6A Quarterfinals (8–2 region), Central Region Champions
2024–25: 19–11, 6A Semifinals (9–1 region), Fiesta Region Champions
2025–26: 22–6, Open Division Quarterfinals (9–1 region), Fiesta Region Champions
The 2022–23 season marked a historic milestone as the Hawks captured Highland’s first-ever 6A State Championship, finishing 29–3 and dominating region play with a perfect 10–0 record.
Highland has since won four consecutive region championships (2022–2026), including three straight 9+ win region seasons. The 2025–26 team finished 22–6 and advanced to the Open Division Quarterfinals, continuing the program’s sustained success.
Previous Head Coaching Experience
Before Highland, Coach Fazio served as head coach at Red Mountain High School (2013–18), where his teams averaged 17 wins per season and qualified for the state tournament every year. In his final season, the Mountain Lions finished 18–9 and captured the East Valley Region title (9–1). He was named East Valley Region Coach of the Year in 2017.
Prior to Red Mountain, Fazio led Desert Mountain High School (2005–13) to a 146–83 record, including:
2007 5A State Championship
Two Final Four appearances (2011, 2013)
Eight consecutive state tournament appearances
He was named Arizona Coach of the Year in 2007 and Desert Valley Region Coach of the Year four times.
Coach Fazio’s earlier coaching experience includes roles at Horizon High School in Arizona, Waukee High School, and Estherville-Lincoln Central High School in Iowa. He also served as a graduate assistant at Bemidji State University.
Playing Career & Leadership
A native of Iowa, Fazio was a three-sport athlete at West Des Moines Valley High School and a captain on the 1993 Iowa 4A State Championship team. He earned First Team All-State honors as a senior.
He played collegiately at Bemidji State University (1996–98), serving as a two-year captain and leading the team in assists and steals.
Coach Fazio is a founding member of the Arizona Basketball Coaches Association (ABCA) and currently serves as Director of Coach Development & Programs.
He resides in Gilbert, Arizona, with his wife, Charlene, and their daughter, Isabella.