1st Year Head Coaches & Their Challenges
By: Kyle Henderson of NMPreps.com
Today we take a look at the incoming first year Head Football Coaches and highlight what to expect in year one.
Collin Justiss - Former HC at Clayton, New HC at Valencia
Collin Justiss - New Head Coach At Valencia
Former Head Coach at Clayton
Over the last two seasons Justiss who is under 35 years of age has record of 23-2. Valencia was 6-5 last year under Kevin Jolly and though they have reached the playoffs in the last few seasons, the Jaguars graduated a ton of talent. Big Challenge In Year One: Keeping the Jaguars playoff eligible this season
Dustin Tippett - New Head Coach at Clayton
Former assistant at Clayton
Good time to take over the job at Clayton while things are hot, but of course you got to keep them that way. Clayton is 23-2 in the last two years and has reached the Championship Game two-years running. Though Tippett has some talent returning, Clayton’s expectations right now are super high. Early losses could disrupt the stands. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Keeping the W’s rolling in weekly.
Eric Stovall - New Head Coach at Shiprock
Former Junior Coach at Heights Middle School
The Chieftains hired the young Stovall to obviously win, but to also bring some much needed hype and new age feel to Shiprock which went 3-7 in 2014. It’s a tough place to coach, but they have won before and reached the playoffs before. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Getting the kids to buy in
Gary Bradley - New Head Coach at Carlsbad
Former Head Coach at Farmington
This was the biggest coaching change/takeover this summer. Bradley leaving Farmington a program he built up for a one-horse town 6A program that went 2-8 in 2014 missing the playoffs. Carlsbad is clearly a sports town and has a ton of athletes and if Bradley can win a state football championship in Farmington, maybe he can bring some magic to Carlsbad? The magic won’t happen this year, we’re guessing 2-3 seasons we’ll see some big, big changes. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Playing Artesia and Mayfield at home.
Greg Jenks - New Head Coach at Kirtland Central
No previous information
Jenks takes over a program that went 5-6 during the 2014 season and reached the first round of the playoffs. This has got to be a good job as Kirtland has one of the larger enrollments out of class 4A. Not sure how much pressure there is at Kirtland right now to win, so Jenks should have time to build in his own philosophy as a Head Coach. District is filled with teams you should beat every year, can’t slip there. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Taking the program to the next level.
Jeff Dalton - New Head Coach at Farmington
Former assistant at Farmington
Farmington has been a yearly staple in the 5A football mix since the take over of Gary Bradley, but Bradley is gone and in-steps Jeff Dalton who was one of Bradley’s top assistant coaches. Farmington is still a good spot to coach football and the foundation should be solid enough for Farmington not to take steps backwards. This district is till up for grabs, winning the district title this year would be a huge boost of confidence for the community in their new coach. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Keeping the momentum going
John Cabos - New Head Coach At Bernalillo
No previous information
After Ken Noel left as Head Coach in 2013 the program has had two new coaches in the last two-seasons. Last year Trent Spencer went 2-8 and now in-steps John Cabos. No way to spin it, it’s a very tough place to win at, get athletes, and just compete at the 5A level. Last year they lost to Del Norte 42-0 and lost to Capital 54-0, two district opponents that should be better in 2015. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Not leaving after the season
Josh Olsen - New Head Coach At Gallup
Former Assistant Coach at Hoover, Iowa
Under Cyle Balok in 2013 the Bengals went 2-8, last year under Chris MacKeown the Bengals went 0-10 and were outscored 488-129 on the season. Olsen will be their third coach in three seasons and there is plenty of work to be done at Gallup and who’s to say you cannot win in Gallup? Last year cross town rival Miyamura went 10-2 on the season. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Winning a single game
Ken Stevens - New Head Coach at Eunice
Former Assistant at Carlsbad
Eunice has of the top facilities in New Mexico and over the last 5-7 years they have had the athletes to go along. Replacing Caleb Aldridge who went 7-5 including a trip to the semifinals in 2014 is long time Carlsbad assistant Ken Stevens. You’re expected to win and win often in Eunice, there is pressure yearly. This year will be no different. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Making the playoffs
Kevin Graham - New Head Coach at Dexter
Former Head Coach at Kirtland Central
In his last two years at Kirtland Central, Graham went 11-10 reaching the playoffs in both years. He is heading back to the Southeast Area of the State to take over Dexter a program that continues to be in the mix when we talk 3A high school football. Last year Dexter was 8-4 losing to rival Eunice in the quarterfinals. This year’s Dexter team has some talent, so Demon fans are likely expecting another playoff run. Biggest Year One Challenge: Keeping the program performing at a high level
Mark Lopez - New Head Coach at Loving
Former Loving Assistant
Just a few years ago this program could not field a team because of low numbers, last year they went 2-7 under Doug Santo. In steps Lopez who will somehow try to turn the Loving program around, it’s a difficult job to say the least. Loving has won just 3 games since 2012. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Understanding the wins don’t always come on the scoreboard
Ron Gallegos - New Head Coach at McCurdy
No previous information
The Bobcats had a down year in 2014 going 2-8 on the season. Ron Gallegos takes over for Jorge Oropeza. McCurdy was outscored last year 436-189. Another tough take over in the off-season. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Gaining momentum as a program
Sam Mascarenas - New Head Coach at Rio Grande
Former Assistant at Rio Grande
Since 2012 the program will of had 3 different head coaches. Last year the Ravens went 1-9 under Pat Quillen, their lone victory came against winless Highland. The new Head Coach is Sam Mascarenas who has been around the Ravens as an assistant for quite some time and is part of the mid-2000 Ravens staff which last went to the playoffs. With Atrisco Heritage opening next door, it’s going to be a continued tough sell to get kids to go to Rio Grande, but you play the cards you’re dealt. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Building trust within the players
By: Kyle Henderson of NMPreps.com
Today we take a look at the incoming first year Head Football Coaches and highlight what to expect in year one.
Collin Justiss - Former HC at Clayton, New HC at Valencia
Collin Justiss - New Head Coach At Valencia
Former Head Coach at Clayton
Over the last two seasons Justiss who is under 35 years of age has record of 23-2. Valencia was 6-5 last year under Kevin Jolly and though they have reached the playoffs in the last few seasons, the Jaguars graduated a ton of talent. Big Challenge In Year One: Keeping the Jaguars playoff eligible this season
Dustin Tippett - New Head Coach at Clayton
Former assistant at Clayton
Good time to take over the job at Clayton while things are hot, but of course you got to keep them that way. Clayton is 23-2 in the last two years and has reached the Championship Game two-years running. Though Tippett has some talent returning, Clayton’s expectations right now are super high. Early losses could disrupt the stands. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Keeping the W’s rolling in weekly.
Eric Stovall - New Head Coach at Shiprock
Former Junior Coach at Heights Middle School
The Chieftains hired the young Stovall to obviously win, but to also bring some much needed hype and new age feel to Shiprock which went 3-7 in 2014. It’s a tough place to coach, but they have won before and reached the playoffs before. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Getting the kids to buy in
Gary Bradley - New Head Coach at Carlsbad
Former Head Coach at Farmington
This was the biggest coaching change/takeover this summer. Bradley leaving Farmington a program he built up for a one-horse town 6A program that went 2-8 in 2014 missing the playoffs. Carlsbad is clearly a sports town and has a ton of athletes and if Bradley can win a state football championship in Farmington, maybe he can bring some magic to Carlsbad? The magic won’t happen this year, we’re guessing 2-3 seasons we’ll see some big, big changes. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Playing Artesia and Mayfield at home.
Greg Jenks - New Head Coach at Kirtland Central
No previous information
Jenks takes over a program that went 5-6 during the 2014 season and reached the first round of the playoffs. This has got to be a good job as Kirtland has one of the larger enrollments out of class 4A. Not sure how much pressure there is at Kirtland right now to win, so Jenks should have time to build in his own philosophy as a Head Coach. District is filled with teams you should beat every year, can’t slip there. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Taking the program to the next level.
Jeff Dalton - New Head Coach at Farmington
Former assistant at Farmington
Farmington has been a yearly staple in the 5A football mix since the take over of Gary Bradley, but Bradley is gone and in-steps Jeff Dalton who was one of Bradley’s top assistant coaches. Farmington is still a good spot to coach football and the foundation should be solid enough for Farmington not to take steps backwards. This district is till up for grabs, winning the district title this year would be a huge boost of confidence for the community in their new coach. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Keeping the momentum going
John Cabos - New Head Coach At Bernalillo
No previous information
After Ken Noel left as Head Coach in 2013 the program has had two new coaches in the last two-seasons. Last year Trent Spencer went 2-8 and now in-steps John Cabos. No way to spin it, it’s a very tough place to win at, get athletes, and just compete at the 5A level. Last year they lost to Del Norte 42-0 and lost to Capital 54-0, two district opponents that should be better in 2015. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Not leaving after the season
Josh Olsen - New Head Coach At Gallup
Former Assistant Coach at Hoover, Iowa
Under Cyle Balok in 2013 the Bengals went 2-8, last year under Chris MacKeown the Bengals went 0-10 and were outscored 488-129 on the season. Olsen will be their third coach in three seasons and there is plenty of work to be done at Gallup and who’s to say you cannot win in Gallup? Last year cross town rival Miyamura went 10-2 on the season. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Winning a single game
Ken Stevens - New Head Coach at Eunice
Former Assistant at Carlsbad
Eunice has of the top facilities in New Mexico and over the last 5-7 years they have had the athletes to go along. Replacing Caleb Aldridge who went 7-5 including a trip to the semifinals in 2014 is long time Carlsbad assistant Ken Stevens. You’re expected to win and win often in Eunice, there is pressure yearly. This year will be no different. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Making the playoffs
Kevin Graham - New Head Coach at Dexter
Former Head Coach at Kirtland Central
In his last two years at Kirtland Central, Graham went 11-10 reaching the playoffs in both years. He is heading back to the Southeast Area of the State to take over Dexter a program that continues to be in the mix when we talk 3A high school football. Last year Dexter was 8-4 losing to rival Eunice in the quarterfinals. This year’s Dexter team has some talent, so Demon fans are likely expecting another playoff run. Biggest Year One Challenge: Keeping the program performing at a high level
Mark Lopez - New Head Coach at Loving
Former Loving Assistant
Just a few years ago this program could not field a team because of low numbers, last year they went 2-7 under Doug Santo. In steps Lopez who will somehow try to turn the Loving program around, it’s a difficult job to say the least. Loving has won just 3 games since 2012. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Understanding the wins don’t always come on the scoreboard
Ron Gallegos - New Head Coach at McCurdy
No previous information
The Bobcats had a down year in 2014 going 2-8 on the season. Ron Gallegos takes over for Jorge Oropeza. McCurdy was outscored last year 436-189. Another tough take over in the off-season. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Gaining momentum as a program
Sam Mascarenas - New Head Coach at Rio Grande
Former Assistant at Rio Grande
Since 2012 the program will of had 3 different head coaches. Last year the Ravens went 1-9 under Pat Quillen, their lone victory came against winless Highland. The new Head Coach is Sam Mascarenas who has been around the Ravens as an assistant for quite some time and is part of the mid-2000 Ravens staff which last went to the playoffs. With Atrisco Heritage opening next door, it’s going to be a continued tough sell to get kids to go to Rio Grande, but you play the cards you’re dealt. Biggest Challenge In Year One: Building trust within the players
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