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Kevin Garcia takes over as Pojoaque Valley’s new athletic director

Pojoaque Valley in need of a new head boy’s basketball after long-time head coach Joey Trujillo resigned to spend more time with his family, especially to watch his freshman daughter play basketball and volleyball

Trujillo headed the program for 13 years, won its first state championship in 2008, and had a 220-160 record 

Arnie Leshin

By Arnie Leshin (updated Friday May 19, 2017 8:27am)

Apologizes to Joey Trujillo.

It is correct to report that that new Pojoaque Valley athletic director Kevin Garcia will be looking for a new head boy’s basketball coach, but it is incorrect that Coach Trujillo was fired from the position.

This was mentioned in the Thursday feature story regarding the hiring of Garcia, but to be correct, he resigned from the position in order to devote more time to his family, and with his daughter now entering her freshmen year, wanted to see her play basketball and volleyball.

“It was a hard decision for him to make,” said outgoing athletic director, Matt Martinez, “but he thought it was the right decision for him and his family and we thank him for a job well done.”

Trujillo had been coaching the program for 13 years, and won the state championship in 2008. He put together a record of 220-160.

Yes, Garcia, the new AD for the Elks and Elkettes, will need to bring in a new head boy’s basketball coach, but it’s because of the resignation of long-time coach Trujillo. No one was fired.

Kevin Garcia takes over as Pojoaque Valley’s new athletic director, replacing retiring Matt Martinez and anxious to get underway in his brand new role

Garcia played baseball, football and wrestled at St. Michael’s, was an assistant football coach there, and also an assistant principal and school teacher in Santa Fe

Kevin Garcia thought it was time to take a different path, as in accepting the vacant athletic director position at Pojoaque Valley.

The announcement was made Monday. A graduate of St. Michael’s, he now makes the change from royal blue and while to kelly green and white, but it’s fine with him.

“I had been seeking an athletic director job,” he said. “And to land it at Pojoaque is great. I know their athletic programs, they have excellent athletic facilities, the basketball facility is beautiful, the football field is great.”

At St. Michael’s, he played football, baseball and wrestled. He returned to the Horsemen as an assistant football coach for 15 years, but he has a vast knowledge of other sports, and no doubt welcomes the school’s wrestling program that began last year.

“I’m very excited about this,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity at a school with great athletes. They have won state championships, they have a nice campus. I can’t wait to get started.”

Presently, Garcia is still under contract as an administrator of the Santa Fe public schools. The contract expires June 7. He has also served as assistant principal of Santa Fe’s El Dorado Community School for the past two years.

It will be his first role as an athletic director, but he’s well prepared. He has been around athletics for quite some time, and even spent some time with St. Michael’s athletic director Tom Manning on the subject of the position.

“I interned with Tom at two semesters at New Mexico Highlands,” he said, “and learned a lot. And with Tom’s experience as an AD, it was even better.”

Not only that, but Garcia’s knowledge of the area is another plus, so Pojoaque is very familiar to him. He resides in Santa Fe, but doesn’t mind the short drive to Jacoma. Plus, he said his wife, Monica, is very happy with the move.

“She’s very supportive of me,” he said, “so that makes it great.”

They have two boys, ages 11 and 9, and young enough so that mom and dad have plenty of time before making a decision on where they will attend high school.

Garcia steps in for the retired Matt Martinez, athletic director for 23 years.

Said Martinez: “Kevin’s grandfather was my teacher at Mora High”

As for Martinez’ new plans after winding up a long stretch in which he also coached the school’s girl’s basketball to a state title and lost only three times in a 3-year span, he plans to go fishing up in Los Alamos with Alan Lockridge, who has run the Elks and Elkettes cross country program for 25 years, and has also coached track and field.

Garcia has taught social studies for 19 years. He attended New Mexico Highlands and then received his education degree from the University of New Mexico. At St. Michael’s, he coached the offensive and defensive lines and won two state titles under head coach Joey Fernandez.

“I’m happy for Kevin,” said Fernandez. “He’s earned it after all his years around athletics and as a teacher. He will do fine.”

With school letting out Friday, Garcia did run into head football coach Jose Oropeza. who wished him luck. But he will have to find a replacement for retired head basketball coach Joey Trujillo.

And also find time to schedule a meeting with the remaining coaches.

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