Varsity Head Coaches:

Perry High School New Boys Track and Field Coach for 2019-20 - Clif McKenzie

Perry HS is pleased to announce Clif McKenzie as the new Boys Head Track and Field Coach for the 2019-20 school year.  From competing as a record-breaking sprinter at Arizona State University, to coaching club, high school, college and elite caliber athletes, to his administrative roles with USA Track and Field, the sport of track and field has always played a prominent role in Coach McKenzie’s life.

At Arizona State University, he was part of the record-breaking 4x400 meter relay team in 1977, when the Sun Devil squad ran a time of 3:01.74. He was also a member of the men’s ASU National Championship Team, a Track and Field All-American, and is a member of the ASU Hall of Fame.  Coach McKenzie’s college and high school coaching stops include Arizona State University, Scottsdale Community College, Desert Vista High School, and Queen Creek High School.  In addition to coaching at Perry HS, he will remain as the Head Coach of the Arizona Elite Track and Field Club and will continue to serve as a coach and manager for USA Track and Field where he works with Olympic and elite professionals. 

Throughout Coach McKenzie’s 30+ year career as an educator, he has been in various capacities including teacher, principal, and district administrator for the Scottsdale Unified School District.

According to Coach McKenzie, “Track and Field opened the door for so many accomplishments that I have had as an athlete, too many to list.  I feel what is important to me is always giving back to the sport I love, knowing that a student’s athletic success is largely contingent on the support system behind him or her. Track and field has taken me all around the world as an athlete, while being able to represent the USA.  As a coach, I want my athletes to experience these opportunities, too.”

Coach Mackenzie is married to Cassandra Cline-McKenzie, who shares his passion for track as the Head Girls Track and Field Coach at Desert Vista HS.  Coach McKenzie can be reached at Mckenzie.clifton@cusd80.com. 

Perry High School New Wrestling Coach for 2019-20 - Alex Pavlenko

Coach Alex Pavlenko just completed his 3rd season as Perry High School's assistant varsity wrestling coach and will take over as the head coach for the 2019-20 season.  Coach Pavlenko was a part of Perry's success the past three years as the team had seven All-State placer.  Prior to Perry, Coach pavlenko was at Tempe High School as the head wrestling coach.  He was there for seven years and had 3 State Champions and 22 All-State placers.  In 2015, Coach Pavlenko's team took 3rd overall at the State Championships.

Coach Pavlenko grew up in Mesa, Arizona and attended Marcos de Niza High school. As a high school wrestler he had many accomplishments. At Marcos he was a two time State Champion and held the state record for career pins at 115. In 2004, Coach Pavlenko was inducted to the National Wrestling Association’s Hall of Fame. Coach Pavlenko also competed for the Sunkids wrestling club where he finished as Greco Runner-Up Asics High School National Championship (2002), Freestyle Asics High School National Championship (2002), and two time All American Asics High School National Championship. After a successful career at Marcos, Coach Pavlenko went to Arizona State University to compete as a student-athlete. He was a four year starter as a Sun Devil.

Coach Pavlenko teaches physical education and is also the javelin coach for our track and field program.  He can be reached at pavlenko.alexander@cusd80.com.