Aaron Abeyta
School: Antonito Trojans, Class A 8-man Western League (Mountain Division).
Record: 4-1 overall in 2008, 2-1 division; 6-23 career.
Coaching resume: Trojans head coach since 2005.
Life lines: Age 37. Native of Antonito, graduated from Antonito High School, 1989; attended University of Washington, 1989-90, transferred to Colorado State, 1990, graduated with degree in English, 1994; earned master’s degree at CSU, 1997. English professor (creative writing and ethnic and minority studies) at Adams State, Alamosa, and is an accomplished author.
Back in his day: Trojans quarterback from 1985-88, all-San Luis Valley as a senior; walked on at Washington for a year as a fullback.
Last week: The fact that Friday afternoon’s 26-20 victory over La Veta was Antonito’s first over a team with a winning record (the Redskins entered the game 3-2) in Abeyta’s tenure doesn’t begin to describe the importance for a program in one of Colorado’s oldest, impoverished towns.
The Trojans had lost 27 games in a row, 20 under Abeyta (while being outscored by an average of 48-16), before finishing 2-7 in 2007. Now at 4-1 in 2008, it’s a giant step for a coach who said he began “with kids who had their shoulder pads on backwards and thigh pads where their knees were.”
In addition, Antonito (113 students), a school that has won one Colorado team title (Class B baseball, 1955), is in the 8-man playoff picture after surviving a back-and-forth division game at home against La Veta. Two Trojans juniors led the way. Jose Taylor hauled in seven receptions and made 14 tackles and an interception; quarterback Jose Uriarte threw for three touchdowns and ran for another.
“It’s one of those turn-around victories,” Abeyta said. “I told them: ‘No matter what happens, you’re still good kids.’ ”
Abeyta, who has built his roster to 30 players as well as his players’ self-esteem, requires study halls and keeps the weight room open. Football, he said, is a necessary outlet in the area.
“We’re a poor community,” Abeyta said. “But we’re rich in other things like culture and history.”
Previously run for decades by Benedictine nuns, Antonito (its only loss was to third- ranked Sanford) will finish the regular season with Mountain Valley and Sangre de Cristo in a postseason bid for the first time since 1991. “Now,” Abeyta said, “they know they can win.”
Compiled by Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post
The Denver Broncos high school coach of the week award, in its 13th year, will have 10 honorees during the regular season. NFL Charities will present a check for $1,000 to the school’s program. Abeyta joins ThunderRidge’s Joe Johnson, Jefferson’s Francisco Lujan, Erie’s Larry Gartrell, Pine Creek’s Todd Miller and Prairie View’s Rocky Schneider as winners in 2008. A coach of the year will be announced at the Broncos’ game against the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 21 at Invesco Field at Mile High and receive $2,000. Coaches are selected from a panel consisting of Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post; Billy Thompson, the Broncos; and Andy Lindahl, KOA 850 AM.
