Hall of Fame
Born in St. George, Utah, Richard was raised in the family home across the street from the old Dixie College campus. He inherited from his father Coach Lee Hafen, a passion for athletics, specifically the team sports: football, basketball and baseball. After quarterbacking Dixie High School to a state championship in 1957, Richard was awarded All-State first team quarterback and was selected by the Deseret News to be the recipient of the Thom McAn Most Valuable Player trophy. Deseret News sports writer, Jerry Cahill, noted that ‘Hafen’s passing abilities make him one of the most feared players in the state’. Salt Lake Tribune sports writer Bill Coltrin referred to Hafen as a ‘helmeted surgeon’. While at Dixie High, Richard was also named All-State guard in basketball.
Although Richard received athletic scholarship offers from Stanford University, University of Utah, BYU, Utah State and Colorado State, he chose to attend Dixie College, playing under Coach “Sark” Arslanian. The T-formation option offense devised by Coach Arslanian fit perfectly with Richard’s passing and running talents. In 1958 Richard was awarded honorable mention for Junior College All-American and was named first team quarterback for the Intermountain Collegiate Athletic Conference (ICAC). In 1959 he was selected Junior College All-American quarterback for the West team. In addition to football, Richard also played point guard on the Dixie College basketball team and shortstop on the Dixie College baseball team.
In the spring of 1960 Richard transferred to the University of Utah where he quarterbacked for the Ute’s during the 1960 and 1961 football seasons; and in 1962 he played shortstop for the Ute’s baseball team. Richard is honored to join his father, Coach Lee Hafen, as a member of the Dixie State College Athletic Hall of Fame.
