Pojoaque Valley seeks a head football coach after Jorge Oropeza resigns

The Elks looking to sign their 13th head football coach since the program began in 1994

By Arnie Leshin 

Wanted ASAP, a head football coach for Pojoaque Valley High School.

When? ASAP. High schools kick off on August 24 with the Elks playing at Capital High. Six days later, they are at Santa Fe Indian School.

Can’t blame the players who have been working out daily. You can assume the blame falls on head coach Jorge Oropeza, who recently resigned, with no   explanation for an exit so close to the start of the season.

So now the school under new athletic director Matt Martinez, who replaces the Matt Martinez who announced his retirement, but is now in the same role at Rio Rancho Cleveland High.  

Now the Elks are seeking their 13th, head coach of the program that began in 1994. And aside from Manuel Lucero and John Ainsworth who guided the program for five seasons, all the other head coaches have lasted no more than two years.

As for Oropeza, his Elks went 5-15 in his short stay, and won only once in 10 starts last year. The team scored only 28 points and failed to break double figures on the scoreboard.

In 2015, Oropeza spent the campaign as defensive coordinator at Espanola Valley, and the program won its first district title and set a school record for wins with eight.

Prior to that, Oropeza remained in the area as head coach for two seasons at Espanola McCurdy, and his Bobcats went 6-13. He also had a short stint as defensive coordinator at Santa Teresa by heading south.

Oropeza told the Rio Grande that his resignation was more of a “license thing”, but did not elaborate.

As for the role of athletic director, Matt Martinez (not the one who resigned)

replaced Kevin Garcia, who resigned after one year when he replaced the Matt Martinez who resigned.

The school colors remain the same. The school is still in the same site and has one of the state’s finest indoor gymnasium. Despite all this, once again there will be a change in the athletic department as the football season nears.