It's early evening on a mid-November day and Manuel Romero again finds himself musing on meeting the parents of his players to begin another high school basketball season.

There's one big difference this time around though — rather than the Kelly green-and-white of his alma mater Mora High School, Romero is talking to parents clothed in the blue-and-gold of Peñasco High School.

Romero finds himself in this peculiar situation after spending 13 years as the head coach of the Rangers, where he guided the program to two state titles at the school he graduated from.

"It is strange," Romero says. "I still catch myself say making reference to Mora this and Mora that, so I have to stop myself and use Peñasco."

Romero muses on how strange it will be to return to Mora as an opponent and to have family and friends cheering against his team — and to have his own family cheer against the hometown team.

"It's a big change to them but like my father once told me 'When one door closes, another opens.' " Romero says. "I'm fortunate this door is open. Now I have to take the bull by horns."

How Romero got to Peñasco is well documented.

Following the 2008-09 the Mora school administration opened all of its coaching positions including Romero's and head girls basketball coach Mark Cassidy — both of whom were perceived to be on the hot seat.

Romero, who also was the athletic director, took the hint and was contacted soon after by representatives at Peñasco.

Romero, who still had a teaching position at the Mora Schools, says he sat down one evening with his wife Sandra and sons Ryan and Keith to talk about the situation.

"My wife said 'Take a year and see what becomes of it,' " he says. "I told her I didn't think I could sit through a winter not being around basketball and not be involved with it. She and the boys said they'd support my decision."

So Manuel and Keith, who just entered the eighth grade, make the two-hour round-trip journey to Peñasco.

Romero says the Peñasco community has embraced him, and he's settled in to his new digs, adding that it's a scenario that could've played out earlier in his career.

"I could've come here several years ago," Romero says. "They asked me to come but out of loyalty to Mora, I stayed. The community has been very welcoming. It's been a blessing and a boost for me."

That includes a little ribbing of Romero and his habit of stomping his boots on the wooden floor to get his players' attention.

"We were laughing about that," Romero relates. "My co-workers here have been saying 'Well, next year Peñasco is gonna get a new gym floor,' I didn't put it together right away so I asked them. And one of them said. 'Well Manuel, with your stomping it's gonna wear it down!' "

The transition on the court has been somewhat smooth as well. He insisted on taking the team over after the end of last school year, so he could lead it through summer practices in June.

The Panthers played 34 games with Romero and the team got used to each other.

"It was a challenging process," he says. "It's still is a challenging process. They're learning a new system and I'm learning the new kids."

The new system is different from Peñasco's previous style, which Romero says was more about getting the ball into the paint and penetrating the lane.

"It's completely different," Romero emphasizes. "My system more motion offense. So we've got to adapt it to the kids. We'll have to make correct choices different aspects of game to fit program."

Romero says his success at Mora made the new system an easier sell to the group.

"I'm not one to brag but a big issue is my success in Mora," Romero says. "Those successes helped make the transition a lot smoother. Peñasco's had one state championship in its whole history, in 1981. My successes had kids that were more interested in buying into the system trying to become a success."

Romero says he's dealt with his hurt and anger at the departure in Mora, but still has issue with the way things were handled by the administration.

"I wish they would've had the courage to tell me they wanted to go in different direction," he says. "I basically walked into the superintendent's office to ask the reason for opening the position and the answer was that it was an administration decision. There was no other explanation."

Romero says he bears no ill will

"I have nothing bad to say about Mora or the school system" he says. "I was there long time. I wish the best for boys program and all programs. They've always been successful and they'll continue to be successful."

That doesn't mean that Romero isn't looking forward to greeting his old team in Peñasco on Dec. 11 or returning to Mora for the Tri-Cities Invitational in late December?

"Oh, Dec. 11 is marked on the calendar," he laughs. "I still have friends and plenty of supporters I still talk to in the community. I've put the feelings aside. It's like I tell the team's coach, 'On the court, they're the enemy. But when all is said and done you go back to friends. It's just a game.' "

"But it will be interesting," he says with a chuckle.