April 3—For thirty-five years, Ray Rodriguez coached boys basketball.
His final season is 2021–2022.
Rodriguez, 62, announced his retirement to the Journal on Saturday. He has been the Cibola Cougars’ coach for the past 24 seasons.
He remarked, “I have just been thinking about it for a while.” “And I just decided that it was time,” the speaker said.
Rodriguez will continue to serve as the athletic director at Cibola. He spent seven seasons as the head coach of Highland High before coming to Cibola. He then spent four years coaching in a Seattle suburb before coming back to New
“You will know when it is time,” a few males told me in the past, Rodriguez recalled. “I understand.”
With his long and outstanding career, Rodriguez actually just has one gap to fill—he never fully managed to overcome the disappointment of losing in the state tournament.
In 1992 and 1993, Rodriguez led Highland to the Class 4A state final twice. Albuquerque High and Alamogordo were losses for the Hornets. At Cibola, he also had a number of exceptional teams. One of them advanced to the 2004 Class 5A championship game, where the Cougars fell to Eldorado in a close defensive match.Mexico to take over at Cibola.
Time proves that although Ray is quite modest, he has been a fantastic basketball coach for two high schools. Happy for him, what a wonderful buddy he is!?
— April 2, 2022, Roy Sanchez (@roy_sanchez21)
Roy Sanchez, the coach of the Eagles, takes over as the dean of the Albuquerque Public Schools’ boys varsity coaching staff upon Rodriguez’s retirement.
“Ray is incredibly modest, but history demonstrates that he was a fantastic basketball coach for two high schools. I am glad for him; he is a wonderful buddy.” Sanchez stated on Saturday in a tribute to Rodriguez on Twitter.
Fantastic coach and an even great individual. I am so grateful for the time I got to spend at Cibola with his staff. It is a blessing that I have him as a mentor and friend.
— April 2, 2022, Justin Woody (@CoachJWoody)
Justin Woody, the coach at Highland, also commented on Twitter.
“Amazing coach who is an even better person. I am so grateful for the time I got to spend at Cibola with his staff. It is a blessing for me to have him as a mentor and friend,” Woody stated.
According to Rodriguez, the pandemic made him consider retiring.
He explained, “It just gave them an opportunity to contemplate.” “Coaches typically do not have that much time. That is exactly what it was for me—a epiphany.”
Rodriguez stated that he was unsure of his potential involvement in selecting his successor. Cibola is now searching for a new head football coach as well.
“It is a fantastic time for a new coach to come in and for me to get out,” he declared.
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