National Football Foundation

Teacher, high school principal, athlete, coach, inventor represent just a few of titles earned by Bob Keropian, the West Region Coordinator and president of the Northern California Chapter. For nearly 50 years, Bob has given his time and talent to the NFF, always with a keen focus on his educational roots.
 
A multi-sport athlete at Washington High School in San Francisco, Bob's track team included Ollie Matson, a future Olympic medalist and College Football Hall of Famer from the University of San Francisco. Later in life, Matson would describe Keropian as "pound for pound, the greatest all-around athlete I ever saw." After teaming with Matson in high school, Bob went on to attend the San Francisco State University, lettering in four sports in a single academic year and graduating in 1951 with a bachelor of arts degree.
 
In 1952, Bob earned a masters degree in San Francisco State, launching his career as an educator. He first taught science and coached football and basketball at South San Francisco High, later becoming the principal of El Camino High School for 29 years. A creative and pioneering solution seeker, Bob invented the first adjustable basketball standard in 1952, allowing a backboard to be raised or lowered. In 1969, the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce named him their Citizen of the Year and the Northern California Principal of the Year.
 
As president of the Northern California Chapter, Bob oversees one of the most robust chapter scholarship programs in the country, having recognized 1,152 scholar-athletes and distributed $648,000 since its inception.
 
"We are investing for the future. Honoring our scholar-athletes and providing scholarship dollars is the best investment return for the future leaders of our communities and nation," said Keropian.
 
Founded in 1959 behind the leadership of College Football Hall of Fame inductee Ernie Nevers , the Northern California Chapter is one of the oldest in the country, and in addition to its annual scholar-athlete banquet, the chapter's many initiatives include golf tournaments, coaching clinics, football workshops for women, and activities with the NFF's Play It Smart program.
 
"We have known Bob since the early 90's, and to us he is the "Professor" with all the right answers concerning the Foundation's operations and history," said Janie Riddle, president of the Valley of the Sun Chapter in Phoenix. "And the "Professor" is the consummate networker. If you're ever with him at an event, you will eventually know everybody in the room by the end of the evening."
 
Bob and his wife of 53 years, Joan, live in Hillsborough California.