The Pankratz Story
The Pankratz Lion Foundation was established in 2021 to honor the memory of Coach De and Pamela Pankratz.
The Legacy of Coach De Pankratz
Coach Pankratz began his illustrious coaching career at Borah as an assistant coach under Ed Troxel. In 1967, Coach Pankratz became the head coach of the Borah Lions, a title he proudly held for the next 20 years. Pankratz was selected as “The Outstanding Coach” in high school football by the Idaho High School Football Hall of Fame. Pankratz led the Lions to state titles in 1967-1971, 1975-1979, and 1981.
This established Borah as the most powerful high school football team in Idaho. The Lions’ achievements were not only measured by their in-state opponents. The mighty Borah Lions, after winning five state championships in a row, defeated one of the nation’s best football team’s on their own turf, the Punahou Buffanblue in Hawaii. The Lions also defeated state champions from California, Utah, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
“You have to be mentally and physically tough.”
— Coach De Pankratz
Pamela Pankratz, a League of Her Own
Coach De’s wife, Pamela, was an avid supporter of the Borah Lions and worked tirelessly with coaches, family, and friends to create football fundraising banquets, parent skits for major school assemblies as well as chaperoning and supporting the Lionette’s drill team. With her creative spirit and artistic abilities, Pamela even made the school mascot, Boo-rah, the Lion. This Lion resided at Borah well into the 1980’s.
This dynamic duo were major cornerstones in the foundation of Borah High School’s spirit, pride, and success. Together, they encouraged and supported Borah’s students and athletes in their efforts to achieve success on and off the field.
The Pankratz memory lives on through the heart of Lion athletics.
