Our people: Life coach

Liliana Castillo: Freedom New Mexico Eastern New Mexico University Coach Mark Ribaudo said he wants to give Portales a fun, exciting and good team to watch.

Eastern New Mexico University’s head football coach Mark Ribaudo spent eight years working as assistant before becoming head coach five years ago. Heading into his sixth year, Ribaudo said he is starting the season as he always likes to: Excited and optimistic. He said there is a buzz in the air before football season starts and it probably comes from the season being short and being made up of so few games. Ribaudo said each game is an event with a whole week of build up, making it exciting.