Raton Schools have announced the hiring of Victor Esparza as the new Raton High School Lady Tigers Head Basketball Coach for the 2014-15 year. Esparza will also take on the role of Raton High School Athletic Director as part of his duties.
A graduate of Cimarron High School, Esparza comes back to NE New Mexico after serving as an assistant coach with the women’s basketball team at Missouri Southern. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach for the men’s program at Oklahoma Panhandle State for six seasons. He also served as the head men’s and women’s cross country coach at OPSU during that time.
At Panhandle, Esparza was responsible for recruiting, player development, scouting and practice planning. He also was in charge of team travel, student-athlete academic progress and film exchange. He got his start in coaching as a student assistant for the 2006-07 season.
As the head coach for the cross country program, Esparza was in charge of everything from recruiting, budgeting, team travel and academics, while also supervising assistant coaches.
Esparza earned a bachelors of science degree from Panhandle State in 2008, and his masters in education from East Central University in 2013.
Esparza will start as soon as he can get situated, according to Raton Schools Supt. Dr. Neil Terhune and will be assisted in Lady Tiger basketball by Sara Davis. Davis who is also a graduate of Cimarron High School, was a member of the 2004 Cimarron Lady Rams NM State AA Basketball Championship team.
