Eric Kurle isn't just a WIAA football champion. or a VarsityWA podcast partner — he'll soon be a hall-of-fame coach

Kurle is one of four coaches selected as part of the Washington State Football Coaches Association's class-of-2026 inductees

Eric Kurle, right, chats it up with fellow Class 4A championship-winning coach Keith Ross, of Sumner, before an SPSL game in 2021. Kurle will be inducted into the WSFCA hall of fame in May as part of the class of 2026. (Vince Miller / For SBLive WA)

Eric Kurle never considered himself a world beater at quarterback.

Even though some of the big-name coaches in Pierce County trusted him to lead an offense huddle, Kurle was realistic about his ability.

“I was always more football-smart than physically a good player,” Kurle said. “And I was never going to make the pros.”

Well, Kurle certainly bought into what he considered his calling — coaching.