Welcome home, Ryan.

Welcome back, Zack.

Ryan Cordova and Zack Cole are returning to Española, taking their expertise and experience to Northern New Mexico College in general, and the men's basketball program in particular.

Northern New Mexico College named Cordova its interim head coach Monday, and Cole as assistant coach.

"We're excited to have two experienced, quality coaches leading our men's team this year," David Trujillo, Northern New Mexico College interim athletic director, said. "Ryan and Zack are well known in the Española Valley, and will bring quality student-athletes to our basketball program."

Cordova graduated from McCurdy School in 1993. He spent the past six seasons as head coach at Gallup High School, guiding the Bengals to a pair of appearances in the Class AAAAA Boys State Basketball Championships.

Cordova's coaching experience also includes a one-year stint with the New Mexico Slam, a former semi-professional basketball team in Albuquerque, and five years as an assistant coach with the men's and women's basketball programs at Fort Lewis College.

Cordova graduated from Fort Lewis with a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Spanish. He also lettered in football for three years at Fort Lewis.

Cole is a 1998 Española Valley High School graduate. He was a three-sport standout with the Sundevils before focusing on basketball at Fort Lewis College, where he arrived on a basketball scholarship. Cole earned all-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honors during his four years with the Skyhawks.

Cole spent five seasons at Capital High, divvying his team as a head coach at the junior varsity and C-team levels, as well as assisting with the varsity. Cole will remain at Capital, teaching health science, in addition to his coaching duties at Northern New Mexico College.

"They will put a men's team on the court that is exciting, fast-moving and entertaining," Trujillo said of Cordova and Cole. "That's what Eagle fans want and we're confident we have the right guys in place to achieve that."

Northern New Mexico College begins its season in mid-October.