Rodriguez Resigns As Head Football Coach at Pojoaque Valley High
On Saturday, Matt Martinez, Pojoaque Valley High athletic director, said Patrick Rodriguez, Elks’ head football coach, verbally resigned his position about a week ago.
“Patrick was welcome to stay but he chose to resign,” Martinez said. “He mentioned that he was resigning because two of his assistants have resigned. We wish him well and we are currently looking for a new football coach.”
Attempts to reach Rodriguez by telephone have been unsuccessful.
Rodriguez, who coached the Elks for two years, did not present a letter of resignation, Martinez said.
Comments
By Claudine Armenta on January 23rd, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Wow this is the second coach to my knowledge that has left the school system with no written resignation. Is there a common thread here? It seems that there may be a problem with communication or something? What a shame this has happened, Mr. Rodriguez and his assistants were very engaged and it seemed to finally have gotten the boys on the right track. During their practices from what I could see they seem to really be working together for the better of the team.
By John Knoll on January 24th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
we need your full namr to publish your comment
By Jessica Ortiz on January 25th, 2012 at 10:33 pm
It is a shame that Coach Rodriquez resigned. He was a great advocate for kids and both him and his assistants really focused on the kids and showed tremendous support for both parents and kids. Its a shame that he resigned, he was a great asset to PVS. The problem I see is that the Atletic Department focuses more on basketball than any other sport. Although Pojoaque Schools say they encourage kids to participate in more than one sport that is not necessarily the case, some basketball coaches frown on kids playing football which cuts into their “open gym” practice. Coaches like Rodriguez and his assistant coaches are hard to come by. It’s too bad that situations beyond Rodriquez controll, I believe, led him to his decision to resign.
By Dave Neal on January 26th, 2012 at 10:17 am
I agree with Jessica’s statement regarding the “focus” of the Athletic Department.
Costs (e.g.,helmets, protective gear, more players=more coaches, athletic field, etc.) for a football program are much higher than other athletic programs such as soccer, cross country or basketball. I am not certain about this but I believe the Booster Club has had a lot fund raising “activities” in order to keep the football program going. A some point, the football program should be funded from the Athletic Department without having the community hold “bake sales” to pay for equipment.
Again I am only speculating but I have a hunch Mr. Rodriguez asked for some additional funds from the Athletic Department based on a successful previous season and was denied thereby providing Mr. Rodriguez a good reason to resign.
I am waiting for Mr. Rodriguez to provide his view of the football program.
The absence of open and honest communication only nurtures an atmosphere of mistrust.
By Cielo Galvan on February 2nd, 2012 at 11:57 am
I agree 100% with Jessica’s statement. The Athletic Director needs to focus on all sports and not just boys basketball. We have so much talent in the school and they are not using wisely.. What a shame.. I think its time for new people to come in the district and help focus on the programs we have before it is too late and we start losing kids to other schools..
I have been disappointed with the way the Athletic Department has been running. We are ready for a change at Pojoaque Valley Schools.
By Nadine Trujillo on February 2nd, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Thank you so very much to Coach Rodriguez and Coach “Chante”. Your efforts in the Pojoaque football program were above and beyond.Our boys formed a second family under your direction and support. My son will forever be proud of having the both of you as his football coach.
It is very unfortunate and dicouraging that year after year we the see the support of our athletic director and our schools athletic funds only in the basketball program. There are so many examples of the lack of support our athletic programs have suffered, however we all know what has gone on and continues to go on so I will not mention them.I am not certain why the disrtict refuses to acknowledge the fact that it is time for a new athletic director and it is time to acknowledge all of our athletes vs. just one group. We have an amazing and dedicated group of Basketball players, however our football/soccer/track/volleyball/X-country/cheer athletes are amazing and so very dedicated as well.I sincerely hope that one day our district can open their eyes to what is right in front of them and guide an athletic director to provide the support that is needed for all of our districts athletes.
By John Knoll on February 2nd, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Nadine,
Although Pojoaque has a reputation as a basketball school the fact is that the football program is allocated more money than any other athletic program, and the head football coach and basketball coach receive identical salaries.
My best,
John Knoll
By NadineTrujillo on February 7th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
With all due respect Mr. Knoll,
The football program has a booster club of parent volunteers that raises most of the money needed to run our program successfully. We are not allocated nearly enough from the district of what it truely takes to run a successful football program.
My point in the comment I made was not only regarding financial support of our football athletes. It was also regarding the lack of not only financial but the moral support of all the althletes in our district.
Respectfully,
Nadine
By John Knoll on February 7th, 2012 at 6:52 pm
Nadine,
Like you, I would love to see our football program succeed. What could be done to give our football players the moral support they need?
Be well,
John
By Mike DeMaria on February 9th, 2012 at 10:55 am
I was an assistant coach from 1994 to 2003 and I have seen the Pojoaque football program grow in a positive direction over the years. Players’ parents who keep the football booster club running have been relentless in raising money for the football program since its conception. The school athletic budget has increased and more money has been allocated towards the football program. A big step in the right direction is when the athletic department began paying the head football coach as much as the head basketball coach.
When you compare cost of the football program and basketball program, football cost more, when you look at the revenue of each program, football usually makes more money in most high schools however that may not be the case in Pojoaque. Although I believe Pojoaque would see an increase in attendance at football games if they could play home games on Friday nights rather than Saturdays. (This would require lights for the football field). Football involves more student athletes then basketball so if you dividing the numbers of players into the total budget number of each program you may see that football actually cost less per player. So is the football program budget an underling problem for the football program and for the head football coach?
Over the 18 years of the Pojoaque football program, Pojoaque has had about 9 head coaches or one new head coach every two years. As a parent and fan of the program it makes you wonder why so many head coaches. I don’t believe that the head football coach in Pojoaque is assessed on wins and losses alone like in most high schools or other sports. So if we discount each head coaches wins and loss record then what’s the problem and why so many football coaches?
Looking back at all the head coaches it may be hard to put your finger on one contributing factor as to why so many different head football coaches in Pojoaque. Some head coaches may have left for personal reasons, some may have violated school policy or NMAA rules and some may not have interfaced well with Pojoaque school athletic department. Whatever the case may be the fact is Pojoaque High School is again looking for another head football coach.
How does one measuring the success of the program. We all know no matter what the sport consistency and success of the program starts with the head coach and their staff. Every time you get a new head coach usually the staff and coaching philosophy changes too. This may have an immediate effect on the older players and a long term affect on the younger players, because starting over with a new coach and new system takes time to just to and has an impact on the overall success of the program.
How should the Pojoaque Football Program move forward in a positive direction? Parents and fans should communicate with the athletic director about a search committee for a new head football coach. The committee should have people who understand: football, coaching philosophies, team building, leadership skills, how to develop talent, work ethic, winning/losing attitudes, goal setting, communication skills and commitment to education of the players. The committee should be made up of teachers, school administrator, player’s parents’ past/present, community leaders, previous PHS football coaches and former PHS football players.
Finding the right coach, a good coach! This may not be an easy task because; 1.Pojoaque’s location sometimes limits the pool of applicants. 2. The turnover and frequency of the head football coach’s job may keep some coaches from applying. Let’s face it football coaches are not standing in line to coach at Pojoaque high school but that doesn’t mean that Pojoaque can’t find the right or good coach, it does mean that they may have a limited selection.
What are the good traits that make a football coach successful? One of the most important traits is for a coach to understand how to develop life skills and character in their players. As the legendary college football coach Lou Holts said. “We are on the field and in the locker room to teach our players how to win. Not just on the gridiron, but in any profession they choose. We want to impart habits that will lead them to excellence throughout their lives. Most of all, we want to teach them the value of loyalty, integrity, and teamwork. Once you know how to work with people, you can accomplish anything.”
Football coaches should have a system: Here we are talking about the football coaching philosophy, (Offence and defense philosophies). What is the coaches system and how does he teach the system to his players. How will he create an organization of assistant coaches, JV, freshmen and possibly middle school coaches? A very large part of developing a successful football program depends on how the head coach surrounding himself with good people who share the same coaching philosophy, the same passion for the game and that are knowledgeable, and above all, are loyal to the head coach and want to help him succeed.
Developing talent and work ethic: Since Pojoaque is not a big school with lots of talent the head coach must understand how to develop talent and work ethic in his players. Example is it starts with teaching fundamentals and having a good work ethic and leading by example. A head coach should be willing to spend about 60 % of his practices time devoted to teaching fundamentals. He needs to understand the fundamentals of each player’s position, the rules of football and NMAA rules.
Physical and physiological training of football player: The head football coach must understand how to physical and physiological train football players. He should have knowledge of the how to make his players stronger, sport-specific training, training the right energy system and sports nutrition.
Some questions to ask a candidate for head coach.
• How will this impact your family?
• Do you have the passion of the game and understanding to teach the
fundamentals?
• Do you have the energy, the desire and good health to take this job on?
• What will you get from doing this job and how will it benefit you?
• What are your priorities and goals? What’s important?
• What is your coaching philosophy?
• How will you develop life skills and character in your players?
• How will you physical and physiological train your players!
Finally Pojoaque needs a dedicated coach willing to help our student athletics learn the value of loyalty, integrity, and teamwork while teaching them the game of football.
Mike DeMaria