Boys basketball: Roybal remains head coach at Santa Fe High

James Barron | The New Mexican

5/5/2008 - 5/6/08

Lenny Roybal will remain as head boys basketball coach at Santa Fe High School for the 2008-09 school year, incoming Santa Fe Public School superintendent Bobbie Gutierrez said Monday.

Her comments came after a two-hour meeting with Gutierrez, Roybal, six players and their parents, plus concerned community members in the SFPS administration building.

Gutierrez, who is deputy superintendent and takes over for Leslie Carpenter in the summer, said a second meeting will be held May 19 to help build a "consensus" and chart a course for the program.

"We are working to come to a consensus and create a program where we all work together for the coming year," Gutierrez said. "There will not be changes with the coach at Santa Fe High."

The meeting was in response to the concerns of players and parents, who felt Roybal's commitment to the program was lacking and criticized his coaching style and tactics.

Two of three players who spoke on a condition on anonymity on Friday said they would transfer if Roybal remained as coach.

Roybal, several players and parents contacted by The New Mexican declined comment after the meeting. Roybal also declined comment.

Santa Fe High went 6-21 this season and is 25-55 in three seasons under Roybal, who is in his second stint at the school. Roybal led the Demons to the Class AAAAA state semifinals in 2006 as well as to a Class AAAA title in 1978 during his first go-round from 1975-81.

Gutierrez said she would look into the concerns outlined in the meeting to help improve the overall health of the program.

"We will work together to resolve the problems and issues that were expressed by some of the parents and the players," Gutierrez said.