Mattox named as new Wildcat basketball coach

CLOVIS — Clovis High has filled two of its coaching vacancies this week, including boys head basketball coach.

Athletic director Lonnie Baca said on Monday that Joshua Mattox, who spent last season as a men’s basketball assistant at University of the Southwest in Hobbs, has taken over the boys basketball reigns following the resignation of Jaden Isler earlier this summer.

A 2010 graduate of Belen High School, Mattox earned his Bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the University of New Mexico earlier this year. Prior to USW, he spent six seasons (2015-21) on the staff at Valencia High School, the last three years as head coach where he compiled a 37-35 record.

Mattox, 30, inherits a program which struggled to a 6-22 mark in 2021-22.

“I’m excited to get going,” Mattox said Tuesday. “I’ve heard from a lot of people that we have some good talent coming up.”

While Mattox has spent much of his life in the Albuquerque area, he said he has family in this part of the state.

“I’ve always been a small-town guy,” he said. “Belen kind of has a similar small-town feel.”

Mattox was named MaxPreps’ New Mexico Class 4A coach of the year for the 2018-19 campaign in his first season at the helm in Valencia.

He began his coaching career at Belen, coaching track and eighth-grade boys basketball from 2013-15. Mattox also works summer camps through Point Guard College Basketball as an instructor and training camp director.

Baca said duties for Mattox beyond the basketball position are yet to be determined. “We’re still working on a position within the school district,” Baca said.

CHS has also chosen Clovis native Johnny Saiz to take over its softball program after Braelyn Kruelskie led the Lady Wildcats the past two seasons.

Saiz has worked with youth softball programs in the area, and last year started a girls summer fast-pitch league.

Baca said interviews were scheduled this week for the school’s swimming co-coach and girls golf coach positions.

Gordy Westerberg retired as swimming co-coach with Vincent de Maio earlier this year. Baca said CHS is also looking to add a swimming assistant coach.

Girls golf coach Joe Dvozenja relinquished his position after his wife, who had been stationed at Cannon AFB, was transferred out earlier this summer.