1. L G Henderson Artesia- Time kind of wipes out what he accomplished but from 1960-1973 Henderson led the smallest school in New Mexico's big class to five State Championships (two of them undefeated). Why is he underrated? If you dont have him at the top of your list as the best coach in the history of NM football you have him underrated.
2. Doug Etheridge Hobbs- Etheridge worked with Henderson at Dalhart before Henderson left to Artesia. Etheridge came to Hobbs from Monahans and led Hobbs from a 2-9 season to a 9-2 season. Etheridge stayed in Hobbs only four seasons but led them to a State Runnerup, State Championship and a semi-final loss to eventual state Champion Mayfield before leaving for Texas. Hobbs won State the season after he left after rebuilding the program. The only Coach ever to win the Big School State Championships in New Mexico and Texas.
3. Jerry Brown- Lovington- other than a 2-9 season in the 70's, Lovington had not come close to the playoffs before Brown took over. Brown eventually led them to the playoffs in 1986 with a 5-6 record. The year after Lovington went 13-0 and was a perennial State power from that point on.
4. Dunny Goode- Clovis-Goode came to Clovis from Canyon Texas and led Clovis to a 14-0 season his first year at Clovis. Goode won two state Championships in five years at Clovis before turning the program over to Roanhaus.
5. Gary Hveem- Alamogordo- before Hveem came to Alamogordo they had never been to the football playoffs in New Mexico. While at Alamogordo he took them to playoffs four times including a 12-1 state runnerup to Clovis in 1985.
2. Doug Etheridge Hobbs- Etheridge worked with Henderson at Dalhart before Henderson left to Artesia. Etheridge came to Hobbs from Monahans and led Hobbs from a 2-9 season to a 9-2 season. Etheridge stayed in Hobbs only four seasons but led them to a State Runnerup, State Championship and a semi-final loss to eventual state Champion Mayfield before leaving for Texas. Hobbs won State the season after he left after rebuilding the program. The only Coach ever to win the Big School State Championships in New Mexico and Texas.
3. Jerry Brown- Lovington- other than a 2-9 season in the 70's, Lovington had not come close to the playoffs before Brown took over. Brown eventually led them to the playoffs in 1986 with a 5-6 record. The year after Lovington went 13-0 and was a perennial State power from that point on.
4. Dunny Goode- Clovis-Goode came to Clovis from Canyon Texas and led Clovis to a 14-0 season his first year at Clovis. Goode won two state Championships in five years at Clovis before turning the program over to Roanhaus.
5. Gary Hveem- Alamogordo- before Hveem came to Alamogordo they had never been to the football playoffs in New Mexico. While at Alamogordo he took them to playoffs four times including a 12-1 state runnerup to Clovis in 1985.
