Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Melrose's Roybal wins state athletic director award

ALBUQUERQUE — The Melrose Buffaloes have been doing a lot of winning over the last few seasons, including a historic 2015-16 campaign when they won five state championships.

Dickie Roybal got the latest win. He was named the New Mexico High School Coaches Association’s athletic director of the year Wednesday.

Roybal, who has held the top position for 10 years, was notified of the award July 16 by NMHSCA Executive Director Buster Mabrey.

“It was a big surprise,” Roybal said. “That was good for small schools, I thought.”

Since the inaugural award was presented to Carlsbad’s Joe Willis in 1976, only one other Class 1A athletic director has claimed the honor. That was Reserve’s Bill Richards in 1986.

Melrose recently took its third consecutive Director’s Cup — the New Mexico Association’s general excellence award for schools in athletics, activities and sportsmanship. With a system that awards 20 points for participation in a program and additional points for district titles and playoff wins, Melrose scored 1,240 points — twice the total of 1A runner-up Elida.

In 2015-2016, Melrose became the first school in New Mexico prep history to win the football, volleyball, baseball and boys and girls basketball state titles in the same athletic year.

“It’s an accomplishment of the kids and coaches,” Roybal said. “It’s not really anything I’ve done.”

As football coach, the Buffaloes have won eight state championships — including the last three in eight-man.

“It’s huge,” Melrose Superintendent Jamie Widner said. “He’s been coach of the year in football, and Caleb King has been coach of the year in basketball. This is just the next step.

“It’s a longevity award. You have to be successful for a long time. We just continue to be successful, and that is a direct result of his leadership in the program.”

Previous area winners include Brian Stacy (Clovis, 2012), Randy Adrian (Clovis, 1998) and Steve Graham (Clovis, 1977). Stacy now works with Melrose as an elementary principal, special education director and coach for the Buffalo track and field program.